Former Phillies starter lands with potential World Series foe

The 2024 MLB trade deadline kicked into high gear over the weekend with a number of major moves setting off a frenzy of trades between buyers and sellers. How about one-time Phillies target Randy Arozarena getting traded to the Mariners? James Paxton returning to the Red Sox? Ryne Stanek switching uniforms and adding depth to the rival New York Mets bullpen?

We still have two days left before the trade deadline comes to an official end on Tuesday, and many of the main dominos have still yet to fall.

The Philadelphia Phillies were one of those teams that weren't shy about making a major deal early, trading reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache to the Baltimore Orioles for 2023 AL All-Star outfielder Austin Hays on Friday. This was a trade between two teams who seem to be on a collision course for a World Series showdown in October, but who found enough needs between themselves to get a deal done ahead of the final playoff stretch run.

The Orioles were a very busy team. Aside from making a trade with the Phillies for bullpen help, they also found themselves acquiring a much-needed starting pitcher to add to their injury-depleted rotation. After making a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles added another name that's very familiar to Phillies fans.

Former Phillies starter Zach Eflin lands with potential World Series foe

The Orioles are treading water in the AL East with the New York Yankees (2.0 games back) and Boston Red Sox (5.5 games back) making a midsummer push to take over first place and take advantage of an O's rotation that has seen key arms like John Means and Kyle Bradish lost for the season due to significant elbow injuries.

The Orioles have been rumored to be one of the teams considered to be among the most aggressive in the pursuit of starting pitching over the last month, generating buzz-worthy headlines with interest in Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal. While that sure could still be the case, the Orioles didn't waste any time when they completed a four-player deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for right-hander Zach Eflin on Friday evening.

Phillies fans are no stranger to Eflin, who pitched for the team from 2016 to 2022. He went 36-45 with a 4.49 ERA in 177 appearances, including 165 starts. Eflin had a breakout season pitching for the Rays in 2023, leading the AL in wins with a 16-8 record and turned in sixth place showing for the AL Cy Young Award last year.

While the O's parted with a trio of young talented players to get a deal done for Eflin, they still have the type of farm system to add even more if the right deal is present.

The addition of Eflin dramatically shifts the Orioles starting rotation towards looking like a viable contender again. Eflin will take a spot alongside 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes and impressive young hurler Grayson Rodriguez in a retooled O's rotation, and it's very likely that they aren't done making upgrades to the rotation with two days remaining until the trade deadline passes.