ZACH EFLIN NEWS

Paredes hits grand slam, Rays beat A's for 7th straight win

Isaac Paredes hit a grand slam during Tampa Bay’s six-run second inning, and Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 9-5 to extend their season-opening win streak to seven games

APRIL 8, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Improves to 2-0 Eflin (2-0) allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings Friday, striking out six and earning a win against Oakland.

Impact Eflin was fairly efficient Friday, firing 60 of 82 pitches for strikes, including nine whiffs. Ryan Noda's solo shot in the third inning was the first homer he'd allowed this season. Eflin now has a strong 12:1 K:BB with a 3.27 ERA through 11 innings. He's projected to face the Red Sox at home next week.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Athletics visit the Rays to open 3-game series

The Tampa Bay Rays begin a three-game series at home against the Oakland Athletics on Friday

APRIL 7, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Zach Eflin happy to be with Rays and heading home to newborn twins Notes | The free-agent addition says it was important for team bonding to take the first road trip, but he is eager to see his new daughters...

APRIL 5, 2023 • TAMPABAY.COM

MLB average salary up 11% in 2023, a year after lockout

The average Major League Baseball salary was up 11.1% to a record $4.9 million to start this season, the biggest jump for the sport since 20...

APRIL 5, 2023

AP exclusive: MLB average salary up 11% year after lockout

The average Major League Baseball salary was up 11.1% to a record $4.9 million to start this season, the biggest jump for the sport since 2001, according to a study by The Associat...

APRIL 4, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sharp in Rays debut Eflin (1-0) allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out five across five innings to earn the win Saturday against the Tigers.

Impact Eflin took the mound for the first time in the regular season as a member of the Rays, and he delivered a strong performance. The lone earned run against him came in the fourth inning after he allowed a leadoff double. Otherwise, Eflin was in control and generated seven groundball outs along with 13 swinging strikes across 74 total pitches. The only downside to the outing was that the Rays pulled him early in the game, and that may not be likely to change moving forward given the team's preference to aggressively deploy its bullpen and limit its starters exposure to opposing lineups.

APRIL 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Zach Eflin shines, Rays offense roars in 12-2 rout of Tigers

Zach Eflin is off to an impressive start after signing the largest free-agent contract in Tampa Bay Rays history, pitching five strong innings and getting lots of offensive support...

APRIL 1, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays face the Tigers with 1-0 series lead

The Tampa Bay Rays take a 1-0 advantage into the next game of the series against the Detroit Tigers

APRIL 1, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

McClanahan sharp, Rays blank Tigers 4-0 on opening day

Shane McClanahan pitched six sharp innings, Jose Siri and Wander Franco homered and the Tampa Bay Rays opened their silver anniversary season with a 4-0 victory over the Detroit Ti...

MARCH 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting second game of season Manager Kevin Cash confirmed Eflin will start the Rays' second game of the season Saturday versus the Tigers at Tropicana Field, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The Rays are expected to roll out Shane McClanahan, Eflin and Jeffrey Springs as their starters for the season-opening series with Detroit, while Drew Rasmussen, Josh Fleming and McClanahan are slated to pick up starting nods in the following series in Washington next week. Eflin, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal with Tampa Bay in December, built up to 3.1 innings in his most recent Grapefruit League start March 20, so he could have some light restrictions with his pitch count in his regular-season debut.

MARCH 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Building up stamina Eflin threw 3.1 innings while allowing four earned runs on seven hits in Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Impact It wasn't an ideal outing from Eflin, and he has now allowed six earned runs across his last 7.1 innings of work during spring training. Neither he nor manager Kevin Cash were concerned however, as Eflin faced 16 batters and noted improved durability on the mound, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He has thrown more than 150 innings in a season only once in his career, though the Rays will be relying on him to provide consistent innings after their significant investment in him this offseason.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Photos: Zach Eflin starts as Rays take on Twins Tampa Bay hopes to extend its exhibition win streak to two games at Tropicana Field.

MARCH 14, 2023 • TAMPABAY.COM

Eflin makes good 1st impression with Rays after big deal

Zach Eflin made a good first impression with the Tampa Bay Rays

MARCH 2, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photos: Rays back at Trop in spring game against Twins New Tampa Bay pitcher Zach Eflin gets the start against Minnesota as the Rays shift their home games this spring to Tropicana Field.

MARCH 2, 2023 • TAMPABAY.COM

Baseball and Rays return to Tropicana Field four weeks early

Baseball came early to Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays will look to use it as an advantage

MARCH 2, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays believe Eflin on verge of special things LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Over the years, the Rays earned a reputation as one of the best places in baseball for pitchers to go and get bett...

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • MLB.COM

Dodgers acquired J.P. Feyereisen from Rays for minor leaguer

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired reliever J

DECEMBER 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays finalize Zach Eflin's $40 million, 3-year contract ST. PETERSBURG., Fla. (AP) — The Rays finalized right-hander Zach Eflin’s $40 million, three-year contract on Tuesday, the largest deal for...

DECEMBER 14, 2022 • THESTAR.COM

Broken heart mended as Zach Eflin finally joins Rays ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Zach Eflin had hoped for a long time to be a Ray.

DECEMBER 13, 2022 • SACBEE.COM

Rays finalize Zach Eflin's $40 million, 3-year contract

The Rays finalized Zach Eflin’s $40 million, three-year contract on Tuesday, the largest deal for a free agent in Tampa Bay history

DECEMBER 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Contract with Tampa Bay announced Eflin's three-year, $40 million contract with the Rays was formally announced by the team Tuesday.

Impact The surprise deal was reported at the beginning of the month and has now been made official. Eflin held a 4.04 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 65:15 K:BB ratio over 20 appearances -- 13 starts -- for the Phillies in 2022. He's battled chronic knee issues and his career numbers are rather pedestrian, but the Rays have earned the benefit of the doubt when they see something in a pitchers. It wouldn't be a surprise if they're able to coax a career year out of Eflin in 2023.

DECEMBER 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

AP source: Phillies, RHP Taijuan Walker agree to 4-year deal

The active Philadelphia Phillies have added Taijuan Walker to their rotation, agreeing to a $72 million, four-year contract with the right-hander

DECEMBER 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Free agent pitcher Zach Eflin chooses Rays over Red Sox - The Boston Globe Both teams offered Eflin, who lives in Orlando, Fla., a three-year, $40 million deal.

DECEMBER 2, 2022 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

AP Source: RHP Eflin agrees to $40 million deal with Rays

A person familiar with the deals tells the Associated Press that former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin has agreed to join the Tampa Bay Rays on a three-year, $40 million...

DECEMBER 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS