In a jaw-dropping twist that has left fans and analysts alike reeling, the Boston Red Sox have pulled off one of the most unexpected moves of the 2025 season: signing veteran right-hander Zach Eflin away from their AL East rivals, the Baltimore Orioles. The deal, finalized late Wednesday night, marks a bold statement of intent from a Red Sox front office determined to reassert its place atop one of baseball’s most competitive divisions.
The signing, reported to be a three-year contract worth $52 million, comes amid growing urgency in Boston to shore up a rotation that has struggled with consistency and injury woes throughout the early months of the season. Eflin, who posted a stellar 2.13 ERA with a 4-0 record through his first several starts with Baltimore, was widely expected to be a key figure in the Orioles’ postseason push. That expectation has now been turned on its head.
“It’s not just about the numbers—though Eflin’s stats speak for themselves,” Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Craig Breslow said in a press release. “It’s about leadership, experience, and playoff readiness. We’re not here to tread water. We’re here to win.”
Eflin’s journey has been one of perseverance and late-career resurgence. After signing a three-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023 and emerging as a reliable rotation piece, he was traded to the Orioles at the 2024 deadline in a move that was seen as Baltimore’s all-in bid for a title. Eflin delivered down the stretch, providing the kind of veteran stability the young O’s rotation lacked.
Now, that same stability will anchor a Boston rotation that has struggled to find an ace. Injuries to young arms and inconsistencies from veterans had left the Red Sox’s pitching staff vulnerable in an AL East that remains one of the toughest in baseball. With Eflin now in the fold, Boston gains a proven workhorse who excels at limiting walks, generating ground balls, and commanding all quadrants of the strike zone.
“This is a massive coup for Boston,” said ESPN’s Buster Olney. “Not only do they land a reliable veteran, but they’ve also delivered a psychological blow to a division rival in the thick of a playoff race.”
The move also raises serious questions for the Orioles, who now face the second half of the season without one of their top arms. Baltimore’s front office has yet to issue a statement, but early reports suggest the decision may have been financially motivated, with Eflin seeking long-term security that the Orioles were reluctant to offer.
For Boston fans, the message is clear: the Red Sox are no longer content to rebuild or linger in mediocrity. By adding Eflin, they’ve made it known they plan to challenge the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Orioles head-on. The arms race in the AL East just got a lot more intense—and Boston just made the first strike.
