Eflin embraces Baltimore, finding his baseball home.
Zach Eflin has never been shy about where he wants to be, and this offseason he put his money where his mouth is.
The veteran right-hander re-signed with the Baltimore Orioles on a one-year, $10 million deal with a mutual option for 2027, and he could not be happier about it.
"The only place I wanted to play this year was here," Eflin said.
It is not the first time Eflin has talked about how much he loves playing for the Orioles, but hearing him say it again this morning shows how much the organization means to him.
After being traded to Baltimore from Tampa Bay at the 2024 deadline, Eflin posted a 2.60 ERA in nine starts and fell in love with the clubhouse and coaching staff.
He called it "a fun place to go to work every day" and said the people around the team are what make it special.
A Rough 2025 Makes the Reunion More Meaningful
The 2025 season was tough on both sides. Baltimore finished 75-87 and last in the American League East, while Eflin was limited to 14 starts and a 5.93 ERA before undergoing back surgery in August.
But the connection never faded, and the two sides stayed in contact about a return even before the big offseason moves started.
When Baltimore signed slugger Pete Alonso and traded for outfielder Taylor Ward, who Eflin grew up playing Little League with, the decision got even easier.
"The moves that they've made, it's a win-now thing," Eflin said. "We want to win the World Series, and everybody on the team knows that."
Eflin and Bassitt Bring Depth to the Rotation
Bringing back Eflin was a smart move, but the Orioles did not stop there. Baltimore also signed veteran Chris Bassitt to a one-year, $18.5 million deal just this week.
Bassitt went 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA for the Blue Jays last season and has started at least 30 games in each of the past four years, giving Baltimore the durability it badly needed.
Together, Eflin and Bassitt give the Orioles two proven arms on prove-it deals.
Eflin brings elite walk prevention with a 4.2% walk rate in 2025 that ranked in the 98th percentile, while Bassitt's eight-pitch mix and postseason experience add stability.
With Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, and Dean Kremer also in the fold, Baltimore's rotation looks much deeper heading into 2026 than a year ago.
For Eflin, the road back starts with a healthy spring training.
He has said he feels better than ever after his surgery, and if Baltimore is going to bounce back and make a postseason run, they will need him pitching like the guy who dominated down the stretch in 2024.
Based on everything he has said, he would not want to do it anywhere else.