Zach Eflin, the starting pitcher for the Rays, is apparently a trade target for the Braves later in the season.
For USA Today, Bob Nightengale writes, “Atlanta is keeping a close eye on Tampa Bay Rays veteran starter Zach Eflin should they decide they need another starter at the trade deadline.”
Zach Eflin is a player who Braves fans should be well familiar with. He was drafted by the Phillies and played for them for the first seven years of his career before agreeing to a $40 million, three-year contract in December 2022 with the Rays. Eflin had a spectacular year in Tampa Bay the previous season, finishing sixth in the AL Cy Young race with a 3.50 ERA and 3.01 FIP.
This season’s figures aren’t quite as seductive. With ten starts under his belt, Eflin has a 4.12 ERA and is only striking out 6.7 batters per nine innings. But his 3.68 FIP indicates that he’s had some terrible luck, and most significantly, he doesn’t walk anyone. With a career average of just 1.9 walks per nine innings, Eflin has always been a strike thrower. This season, he leads the majors with 0.6 walks per nine.
For the Braves, Zach Eflin fulfills a number of requirements. He is under contract until the 2025 season, durable, proficient in the NL East, and a strikeout pitcher. Although Alex Anthopoulos has learned from the last two seasons that you can never have too many starting pitchers, pitching has not been the problem in Atlanta. Prospectually speaking, Eflin shouldn’t cost the earth, but anything may happen at the trade deadline. Another factor that would scuttle a possible deal is that if the Rays make him available, there will be no shortage of bidders for his services.
With their current record of 25–23, the Tampa Bay Rays are tied for the final American League Wild Card spot. For the past 10 years, they have consistently been in the running for the playoffs. Despite having a team devoid of star players, they manage to win and appear to be a threat come October. It is naive to assume they will sell by the trading deadline. The Braves would benefit greatly from Zach Eflin’s acquisition, but a lot of things would need to line up perfectly for this to happen.
