Zach Eflin - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports

Starting second game of season Manager Kevin Cash confirmed Eflin will start the Rays' second game of the season Saturday versus the Tigers at Tropicana Field, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The Rays are expected to roll out Shane McClanahan, Eflin and Jeffrey Springs as their starters for the season-opening series with Detroit, while Drew Rasmussen, Josh Fleming and McClanahan are slated to pick up starting nods in the following series in Washington next week. Eflin, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal with Tampa Bay in December, built up to 3.1 innings in his most recent Grapefruit League start March 20, so he could have some light restrictions with his pitch count in his regular-season debut.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Building up stamina Eflin threw 3.1 innings while allowing four earned runs on seven hits in Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Impact It wasn't an ideal outing from Eflin, and he has now allowed six earned runs across his last 7.1 innings of work during spring training. Neither he nor manager Kevin Cash were concerned however, as Eflin faced 16 batters and noted improved durability on the mound, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He has thrown more than 150 innings in a season only once in his career, though the Rays will be relying on him to provide consistent innings after their significant investment in him this offseason.

MARCH 20 • ROTOWIRE

Photos: Zach Eflin starts as Rays take on Twins Tampa Bay hopes to extend its exhibition win streak to two games at Tropicana Field.

MARCH 14 • TAMPABAY.COM

Eflin makes good 1st impression with Rays after big deal

Zach Eflin made a good first impression with the Tampa Bay Rays

MARCH 2 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photos: Rays back at Trop in spring game against Twins New Tampa Bay pitcher Zach Eflin gets the start against Minnesota as the Rays shift their home games this spring to Tropicana Field.

MARCH 2 • TAMPABAY.COM

Baseball and Rays return to Tropicana Field four weeks early

Baseball came early to Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays will look to use it as an advantage

MARCH 2 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays believe Eflin on verge of special things LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Over the years, the Rays earned a reputation as one of the best places in baseball for pitchers to go and get bett...

FEBRUARY 16 • MLB.COM

Dodgers acquired J.P. Feyereisen from Rays for minor leaguer

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired reliever J

DECEMBER 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays finalize Zach Eflin's $40 million, 3-year contract ST. PETERSBURG., Fla. (AP) — The Rays finalized right-hander Zach Eflin’s $40 million, three-year contract on Tuesday, the largest deal for...

DECEMBER 14, 2022 • THESTAR.COM

Broken heart mended as Zach Eflin finally joins Rays ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Zach Eflin had hoped for a long time to be a Ray.

DECEMBER 13, 2022 • SACBEE.COM

Rays finalize Zach Eflin's $40 million, 3-year contract

The Rays finalized Zach Eflin’s $40 million, three-year contract on Tuesday, the largest deal for a free agent in Tampa Bay history

DECEMBER 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Contract with Tampa Bay announced Eflin's three-year, $40 million contract with the Rays was formally announced by the team Tuesday.

Impact The surprise deal was reported at the beginning of the month and has now been made official. Eflin held a 4.04 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 65:15 K:BB ratio over 20 appearances -- 13 starts -- for the Phillies in 2022. He's battled chronic knee issues and his career numbers are rather pedestrian, but the Rays have earned the benefit of the doubt when they see something in a pitchers. It wouldn't be a surprise if they're able to coax a career year out of Eflin in 2023.

DECEMBER 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

AP source: Phillies, RHP Taijuan Walker agree to 4-year deal

The active Philadelphia Phillies have added Taijuan Walker to their rotation, agreeing to a $72 million, four-year contract with the right-hander

DECEMBER 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Free agent pitcher Zach Eflin chooses Rays over Red Sox - The Boston Globe Both teams offered Eflin, who lives in Orlando, Fla., a three-year, $40 million deal.

DECEMBER 2, 2022 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

AP Source: RHP Eflin agrees to $40 million deal with Rays

A person familiar with the deals tells the Associated Press that former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin has agreed to join the Tampa Bay Rays on a three-year, $40 million...

DECEMBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Law: Where will Zach Eflin fit in the Rays rotation after agreeing to three-year deal? Zach Eflin should be a league-average starter for the Rays, and it’s unlikely he’ll be much more or much less.

DECEMBER 1, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Rays sign starter Zach Eflin to 3-year, $40 million deal ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays made their first big move of the offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $40 million contract with starting pit...

DECEMBER 1, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Report: Zach Eflin Signs Free Agent Contract with Rays Former-Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin has reportedly inked a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

DECEMBER 1, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Report: Zach Eflin Signs Free Agent Contract with Rays Former-Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin has reportedly inked a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

DECEMBER 1, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Rays agree to three-year deal with Eflin (report) The Rays made the first notable move on the free-agent pitching market, agreeing to a three-year deal with right-hander Zach Eflin, accordin...

DECEMBER 1, 2022 • MLB.COM

MLB Free Agency Tracker: Zach Eflin, Rays Agree To Deal Inside the Rangers keeps up with all of the MLB free agency news as the hot stove league of the 2022 offseason unfolds.

DECEMBER 1, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Joins Rays Eflin signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Rays on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Eflin declined a $15 million mutual option with the Phillies for the 2023 season to head to free agency. He's now rewarded with a long-term deal in Tampa Bay and will presumably be a significant part of their rotation plans for the length of the contract. Eflin has been limited by injuries the last two seasons, combining to maintain a 4.12 ERA with a 164:31 K:BB across 181.1 innings.

DECEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rizzo, Bassitt turn down options, among 11 now free agents

First baseman Anthony Rizzo became a free agent again when he declined his $16 million option with the New York Yankees for 2023

NOVEMBER 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillies try to show run to World Series was just a start

The Philadelphia Phillies hope their run to the World Series is just the start of a championship window

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ticketed for free agency Eflin declined his $15 million mutual option to return to Philadelphia in 2023 and became a free agent Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Eflin was an effective back-end starter for the first half of the 2022 season, logging a 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 56:15 K:BB in 68 innings through his first 13 starts. He would go on to miss two and a half months in the middle of the campaign due to right patellar issue, prompting the Phillies to bring him back as a reliever when he was finally ready to return in mid-September. He excelled in that role down the stretch and even emerged as Philadelphia's preferred closing option during the postseason, but the 28-year-old right-hander will presumably explore a move back to the rotation in 2023. After handing out big contracts to outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos last winter, it's unclear if the Phillies will have room in their budget to retain Eflin, who could be in store for a multi-year deal with an annual average value north of $10 million in free agency.

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE