The Tampa Bay Rays have plenty of areas to address on the team ahead of the 2026 MLB season getting underway. One of their main focal points to fix, though, must be their pitching depth, as that was a main issue during the 2025 season.
For the Rays to accomplish this, it will be a bit of a challenge. Their projected payroll for the 2025 season is roughly $85 million, but with $78 million already allocated to their current players, they only have roughly $7 million left over for signing new players.
They won’t be able to swing big when it comes to adding to their pitching rotation, and will have to sign a player that will take a more manageable contract. The pitcher they can look to sign in free agency that fits this criteria is a player that used to be on the Rays, and that is Zach Eflin.
*THIS IS A PREDICTION, NOT A REPORT*
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Tampa Bay Rays Signing Zach Eflin in MLB Free AgencyÂ
Zach Eflin had been on the Tampa Bay Rays from 2023 through a portion of the 2024 season before he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. After a 2025 season with Baltimore, where Eflin ended up having a 5.93 ERA, he has yet to be re-signed by Baltimore and sits on the market as a free agent still.
The 2025 season is one that the Rays can hope was a fluke, as throughout his entire career, Zach Eflin has had a 4.28 ERA with 922 strikeouts. In the one full season that Eflin had with the Rays, he had a 3.50 ERA, 1.024 WHIP, and 186 strikeouts. That type of production is something that the Rays can hope will continue upon signing him.
With Zach Eflin coming off a down season, he won’t be searching for a major contract, especially at 31 years old. This makes for an ideal buy-low signing for Tampa Bay with a player they already have familiarity with.