Potential Suitors for Zach Eflin as Trade Deadline Nears

After just joining the Baltimore Orioles less than a year ago, via a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays, Zach Eflin has been mentioned heavily as a player that the Orioles could ship off before the MLB trade deadline on July 31. Here are two teams who could be potential suitors for Eflin if the Orioles decide to pull the trigger on a trade.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are a top of National League Central and could benefit in getting more starting pitching depth. And it appears that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer agrees.

"Obviously getting Shota back is a big help, but you can never have enough pitching depth. Listen we've had a lot of conversations with teams. We'll continue to have a lot of conversations," Hoyer told MLB Cub's reporter Jordan Bastian.

Eflin makes a lot of sense here despite his struggles. He is currently having one of the worst years of his career with a 5.95 ERA, but Chicago gambling on him to get back close to the form he was just last year, may be worth the risk. Last year when joining the Orioles, Eflin was playing the best ball of his career with a 2.60 ERA. It is hard to believe that peak of his play has already come and gone.

Detroit Tigers 

The Tigers like the Cubs are atop of their division. They currently have the best record in the MLB with a record of 59-35. Taking a slight risk to get Eflin and hopes he gets back to his 2024 self on a new team is not a bad idea for a contender like the Tigers.