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Zach Eflin’s 2025 season in Baltimore ended early, but teams still see a pitcher worth taking a chance on. He signed a three-year, $40 Million deal with the Rays before 2023, then landed in Baltimore via trade in 2024.
His first nine starts for the Orioles looked great: 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA, giving them steady innings and a calm late-season arm.
2025 was different. He opened as the Orioles’ opening day starter, but back issues kept him bouncing to the injured list, limiting him to 14 starts. He finished 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.
Now 31, Eflin enters free agency with a clear identity: a smart pitcher who attacks the strike zone, uses a mix of breaking balls and sinkers, doesn’t walk many hitters and has already shown he can thrive when his body cooperates.
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Here are the top three teams where he could land.
1. San Francisco Giants
The Giants are in a place where they want to compete, but they don’t want to sign risky, long contracts for pitchers.
Oracle Park is one of the best parks for pitchers in baseball. It brings down home runs, helps breaking balls play and rewards pitchers who keep the ball on the ground.
If Zach's back recovery goes well, the Giants get a mid-rotation starter they can trust. If not, they move on without regret because the deal is short.
2. New York Mets
The Mets will hunt bigger pitching names, but they still need stable innings behind the front line. Citi Field plays large, keeps homers low, and suits pitchers who throw strikes instead of chasing pure velocity.
Eflin fits as a short, low-risk add who can start every fifth day once his back rehab is done. The Mets don’t need peak Tampa Bay numbers from him in April.
They need clean, five- to six-inning starts in June to steady the rotation and protect the bullpen. Short deal, limited risk, immediate innings if healthy, easy exit plan if not.
3. Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals need a veteran pitcher who can take starts while helping younger arms grow.
Eflin has already shown he can throw 28-30 starts when healthy, keep his walk numbers low and mix pitches intelligently.
For the Nationals, he isn’t a star signing. He’s a bridge signing, someone who keeps games competitive while their young roster grows. A one-year or two-year deal with incentives gives Washington stability without blocking the future.
