right-handed Zach Eflin and Rays of Tampa . Bay are agreeing on a three-year, $40 million deal, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The deal, pending, is the largest free agent deal in Rays history, topping the five-year, $35 million deal that pitcher Wilson Alvarez received ahead of the year’s opening season. 1998 of the team.
Prior to the deal with Eflin, the Rays were the last remaining team in the professional leagues to have never committed more than $35 million to a free agent, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. . There are currently two teams left — team Oakland athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates – never spent $40 million on a free agent.
Eflin, 28, became a freelance agent after turning down a $15 million mutual options contract to buy back $150,000 from Philadelphiacompleted a one-year, $5.7 million contract.
Eflin, who has played his entire seven-year career in Philadelphia, will join the Rays’ rotation including Tyler Glasnow, Shane McClanahan and Drawing Rasmussen.
Last season, Eflin won 3-5 with an ERA of 4.04, reaching 65 in 75⅔ innings. He threw 4⅓ innings without scoring lightly in the World Series, with the Phillies losing in the previous six Houston Astros.
