Despite a frustrating, underwhelming start to the season, the Atlanta Braves are still alive. And with trade deadline rumors heating up, there’s a new name surfacing as a potential fit: Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin.
Yeah, that Zach Eflin. The one with a 5.95 ERA this season. But don’t let the surface numbers fool you—there’s a little more meat on the bone here.
Why Eflin Might Make Sense for Atlanta
CBS Sports recently named the Braves as one of three potential landing spots for Eflin, joining the Padres and Twins on that list. At first glance, the move might feel like a reach. Eflin’s ERA is ballooning, his strikeout rate is down, and his cutter and curveball aren’t missing bats like they used to.
But peel back the layers, and you’ll find that the ERA is being dragged down by a home run rate that doesn’t fully line up with his ball-tracking data. He’s not getting crushed night in and night out—he’s just missing in the wrong spots at the wrong times.
And as CBS pointed out, his hard contact rates are closer to league average than they are to the “this guy’s cooked” range. It’s possible that in a more pitcher-friendly park like Truist and under the Braves’ pitching development staff, Eflin could unlock what’s still left in the tank.
Plus, let’s talk price. Eflin is a free agent at the end of the season. So if Baltimore decides to move him, the return probably won’t require one of the Braves’ top 10 prospects. For a team that wants to contend and protect its long-term farm system, that kind of low-cost upside is attractive.
Buy or Sell? Braves Could Do Both
Now, whether the Braves are even in the market to buy is still the big question. Some insiders think they could walk the tightrope—selling from the margins while still trying to improve the current roster. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently pointed to Atlanta’s history of midseason surges as a reason to believe the front office might lean into buying rather than folding the tent.
He’s not wrong. This team has done it before. In 2021, the Braves were stuck under .500 deep into the summer before ripping off a red-hot second half and running the table all the way to a World Series title. In 2022? Down seven games to the Mets in August, and ended up winning the division. So, Alex Anthopoulos is well aware that things can change quickly in this league.
Adding a guy like Eflin, even with his current numbers, might be one of those low-risk swings that quietly pay off in August or September.
The Orioles Hold the Cards
But none of this matters if the Orioles don’t decide to sell. At 36-47, they’re in last place in a stacked AL East and trailing by double digits in the division. On paper, they look like a team heading for a sell-off. But GM Mike Elias hasn’t made that call yet. The Orioles are still technically just seven games back in the Wild Card, and Elias says they’ll evaluate where they stand in the coming weeks.
Until then, Eflin stays put—but he’s one to watch. If Baltimore stumbles in July and decides to flip some veterans, Atlanta should absolutely be in the conversation.
He may not be the most exciting name on the board, but in a market light on starting pitching and heavy on high prices, Zach Eflin could be the Braves’ kind of deadline deal: affordable, overlooked, and potentially important down the stretch.
