Right-hander Zach Eflin and the Tampa Bay Rays are successful statement connected a three-year declaration worthy $40 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The deal, which is pending a physical, is the largest free-agent declaration successful Rays history, topping the five-year, $35 cardinal declaration that pitcher Wilson Alvarez received earlier the team's inaugural 1998 season.
Before reaching statement with Eflin, the Rays were the past remaining squad successful the majors to ne'er person committed much than $35 cardinal to a escaped agent, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. There present are 2 teams near -- the Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates -- that person ne'er spent $40 cardinal connected a escaped agent.
Eflin, 28, became a escaped cause aft turning down a $15 cardinal communal enactment for a $150,000 buyout from the Philadelphia Phillies, completing a $5.7 million, one-year contract.
Eflin, who played his full seven-year vocation successful Philadelphia, volition articulation a Rays rotation that includes Tyler Glasnow, Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen.
Last season, Eflin went 3-5 with a 4.04 ERA, striking retired 65 successful 75⅔ innings. He pitched 4⅓ scoreless innings successful alleviation successful the World Series, with the Phillies losing successful six games to the Houston Astros.
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