The Baltimore Orioles may have accomplished a need by signing Zach Eflin, but they still need more arms. Even after bringing Eflin in, there’s an expectation that Baltimore will continue to look for another starter before the campaign.
According to CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa, the Orioles are still a team that could add pitching depth, citing the injuries Eflin has dealt with.
“Back trouble and a lat strain limited Eflin, 31, to 14 mostly ineffective starts in 2025. He was a rock solid mid-rotation starter from 2023-24, however, one with a knack for limiting walks and hard contact. Nabbing him for one year and $10 million guaranteed is a nice roll of the dice for an O's team that could still use another starter, but is much improved this offseason” he wrote.
I love what Eflin brings on the mound, and for how cheap he was, there was no reason for Baltimore not to do it.
However, Eflin isn’t what he once was. While there’s a possibility for him to get there, he’s far from an ace.
The Orioles might not need an ace, but they need a reliable arm, and there are questions about whether Eflin is that.
He only threw in 14 games last season and posted a 5.93 ERA. The injury was a factor but that won’t get the job done again.
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