St. Petersburg, Fla. (WFLA) – The Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent pitcher Zach Eflin to a three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.
Eflin’s three-year, $40 million deal marked the highest net worth in franchise history for a free agent. The previous record was a five-year, $35 million deal with pitcher Wilson Alvarez prior to the 1989 season.
Last season, the right-handed pitcher threw for the Philadelphia Phillies. During his time with the World Series runner-up, the 28-year-old went 3-5 with a 4.04 ERA.
He went 3–5 with a 4.37 ERA in 13 starts before he was sidelined for more than two months with a right knee injury. Aflin returned in mid-September to pitch out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season.
On October 3, Eflin recorded his first career save as the Phillies ended their 11-year postseason drought with a 3–0 victory. During the post-season, he pitched to a 3.38 ERA, with no runs in the National League Championship Series or World Series.
The Florida native was selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2012 draft out of Oviedo for Paul J. Hegerty was selected out of high school. Prior to signing with the Padres, he committed to the University of Central Florida.
In 2014, Eflin was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The next day, he was traded to the Phillies for shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
In a press release, the Rays stated that in order to make room on the 40-man roster, they designated right-handed pitcher JP Fairesen for assignment.
