Tampa Bay Rays Sign Free Agent Veteran Pitcher To 3-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays are getting a head start on the Winter Meetings which don't begin until Sunday, adding a free agent starting pitcher to their rotation. 

Rays, Zach Eflin reportedly agree to a 3-year deal, per MLB Network Insider Joel Sherman. pic.twitter.com/KXkYGQLBP9

— MLB (@MLB) December 2, 2022

Zach Eflin has agreed to a 3-year, $40M deal with the Rays, pending a physical, according to MLB Insider Jeff Passan. 

It's a homecoming for Eflin, who was born in nearby Orlando, Florida. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Boston Red Sox made a similar offer to the right-hander, but the opportunity to pitch close to home won out. 

Eflin has spent his entire 7-year major league career with the Philadelphia Phillies, compiling a 4.49 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. His performance over the past four seasons has been better however, with an ERA hovering in and around the 4.00 mark. 

Zach Eflin is an analytics darling the Rays just effectively locked up for the duration of his prime. Perfect Fit. Thought he’d take a 1 yr deal.

— MLBExecutiveBurner (@HotStoveintel) December 2, 2022

In 2022, the 28-year-old made seven relief appearances later in the season after 13 games in his usual role as a starter. He finished with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, with a 65:15 K/BB ratio. He missed nearly three months with a right knee injury.

Believe it or not, this deal marks the largest free-agent contract ever handed out by the Rays, as noted by mlb.com, surpassing the $35M they gave Wilson Alvarez over five years back in 1997.

Photo: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports