Zach Eflin and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a three-year contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the deal is for $40 million.
Eflin, who has spent the first seven years of his career, will pitch closer to home in a place that’s known for helping pitchers get their career back on track. The Rays, who are not known to shell out big free agent contract, are betting that Eflin can stay healthy through his age 31 season.
There’s little doubt that Eflin has the stuff to be a solid mid-rotation starter on a playoff contender. Health has been the issue with him and Eflin has missed significant time with knee injuries in each of the past two seasons as well as earlier in his career.
Through 13 starts this season, Eflin posted a 4.37 ERA before patellofemoral pain in his right knee shut him down until September. He came back as a reliever and pitched well as a back end bullpen arm.
Eflin was acquired in a trade for Jimmy Rollins in December 2014. He was on the mound when the club clinched its first playoff berth since 2011 and is generally regarded as one of the few success stories from the Phillies rebuild.
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