O’s add rotation depth with Eflin
The Orioles are beefing up their starting rotation ahead of the trade deadline.
Baltimore acquired starter Zach Eflin from the Rays in exchange for three prospects on Friday, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
Heyman reported that the Rays will also cover Eflin’s $1 million trade bonus.
Eflin, 30, has posted a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts this season, striking out 87 batters with 13 walks and 14 home runs allowed.
The right-hander enjoyed a career year in 2023, his first season in Tampa Bay, when he went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA in 31 outings after spending his first seven seasons with the Phillies.
Tampa Bay is receiving outfielder Matthew Etzel, right-handed pitcher Jackson Baumeister and infielder Mac Horvath in exchange for Eflin. All three prospects rank outside of the Orioles’ top-10 list, per FanGraphs.
Eflin marks the second big move the Orioles have made this calendar year to add to their starting staff after trading for former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in February.
Baltimore was, and likely still is, in need of some depth in their rotation after losing Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells to elbow injuries earlier this summer.
The trade is yet another signal that the Rays, who were 52-51 and four games out of the third AL wildcard spot heading into Friday’s action, see themselves as sellers at this year’s deadline.
Tampa Bay traded AllStar outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Mariners for two prospects earlier Friday.
➤ The Phillies acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Orioles in exchange for right-handed pitcher Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache in a deal between the East Division leaders in both leagues.
➤ The Dodgers traded pitcher James Paxton to the Red Sox for minor league infielder Moises Bolivar.
Bolivar, a 17-year-old from Venezuela, hit .270 with three home runs and 19 RBIs with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox.
Paxton was designated for assignment Monday. The 35-year-old lefthander was 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 18 starts with the Dodgers this season.