Orioles make surprising in-division trade for Rays starting pitcher

The Baltimore Orioles made a surprising in-division trade with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin, according to multiple reports.

Eflin figured to be one of the pitchers most likely to be dealt on the market ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, and he reportedly found a new home within the division.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was the first to report the news , and Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the deal includes Tampa Bay receiving three minor-league prospects.

The Orioles will be sending outfielder Matthew Etzel, right-handed pitcher Jackson Baumeister (No. 17 prospect) and infielder Mac Horvath (No. 10 prospect), according to Passan.

The Rays have clearly made the choice to sell at the deadline even though they are only 4.0 games back from a wild-card spot in the American League playoff race.

They sent star outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners in a deal late Thursday night.

Eflin has been having a decent season as a mid-rotation arm, and it will be a solid move to bolster the Orioles starting rotation behind Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez.

In 110 innings across 19 starts this season, Eflin has a 4.09 ERA with 87 strikeouts, 13 walks and a 1.164 WHIP.

Eflin's advanced metrics suggest he's been a bit unlucky considering his 3.37 expected ERA and 88.2 mph average exit velocity (67th percentile).

Though he's not a power arm, Eflin relies on filling up the strike zone (2.8% walk rate) and inducing soft contact.