Eflin's three-year, $40 million contract with the Rays was formally announced by the team Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

The surprise deal was reported at the beginning of the month and has now been made official. Eflin held a 4.04 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 65:15 K:BB ratio over 20 appearances -- 13 starts -- for the Phillies in 2022. He's battled chronic knee issues and his career numbers are rather pedestrian, but the Rays have earned the benefit of the doubt when they see something in a pitchers. It wouldn't be a surprise if they're able to coax a career year out of Eflin in 2023.

Eflin signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Rays on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eflin declined a $15 million mutual option with the Phillies for the 2023 season to head to free agency. He's now rewarded with a long-term deal in Tampa Bay and will presumably be a significant part of their rotation plans for the length of the contract. Eflin has been limited by injuries the last two seasons, combining to maintain a 4.12 ERA with a 164:31 K:BB across 181.1 innings.

Eflin declined his $15 million mutual option to return to Philadelphia in 2023 and became a free agent Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eflin was an effective back-end starter for the first half of the 2022 season, logging a 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 56:15 K:BB in 68 innings through his first 13 starts. He would go on to miss two and a half months in the middle of the campaign due to right patellar issue, prompting the Phillies to bring him back as a reliever when he was finally ready to return in mid-September. He excelled in that role down the stretch and even emerged as Philadelphia's preferred closing option during the postseason, but the 28-year-old right-hander will presumably explore a move back to the rotation in 2023. After handing out big contracts to outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos last winter, it's unclear if the Phillies will have room in their budget to retain Eflin, who could be in store for a multi-year deal with an annual average value north of $10 million in free agency.

Eflin picked up the save with a clean inning in Monday's 3-0 win over the Astros. He did not strike out a batter.

EDGE Analysis

In his first career save opportunity, Eflin got the job done, retiring the Astros in order in the ninth inning and securing the Phillies' spot in the playoffs, which will be the team's first postseason appearance since 2011. Eflin has been working out of the bullpen since returning from the 60-day injured list Sept. 11, allowing just one run over 7.2 innings with nine strikeouts, one save and two holds. Eflin was less effective as a starter, albeit in a larger sample size, going 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA through 68 innings before being shut down with injury.

The Phillies reinstated Eflin (kneecap) from the 60-day injured list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

A starter before injuring his kneecap in June, Eflin is expected to pitch out of the bullpen going forward. The righty had a respectable 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 68 innings to begin the season, but it remains to be seen how he performs in his new role.

Eflin (kneecap) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eflin made a rehab appearance at Triple-A Worcester on Friday and gave up a run on a hit and no walks while striking out three in two innings. The right-hander served exclusively as a starter over 13 big-league outings to begin the year but is expected to pitch out of the bullpen once he's officially activated.

Eflin (kneecap) will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin a rehab assignment Friday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 28-year-old will start Friday for the IronPigs but will have the workload of a reliver since he's returning to the Phillies as a bullpen option. Eflin started 13 games before he suffered the injury in late June and had a 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 56:15 K:BB over 68 innings.

Eflin (kneecap) is scheduled to throw live batting practice in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eflin is ready to move on to the next phase of his rehab program for his right patellofemoral injury after he most recently threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session Friday. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Eflin is expected to rejoin the Phillies as a reliever whenever he makes his way back from the 60-day IL, but what exact role he might hold in the bullpen is still up in the air. Gelb speculates that Eflin could be deployed as a traditional one-inning max-effort reliever, as a multi-inning option or as an opener versus righty-heavy lineups.

Eflin (kneecap) threw about 20 pitches during a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eflin has been sidelined by knee issues since late June, but he recently resumed throwing on flat ground and has now returned to mound work. If he feels good over the next couple days, the 28-year-old will throw another bullpen session this weekend. Eflin isn't expected to have enough time to build up as a starter and will likely rejoin the Phillies as a reliever, assuming he's able to return this year.

Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Eflin (kneecap) has been throwing off flat ground recently and could advance to mound work during the upcoming week, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Because Eflin has been on the shelf since June 28 and is likely at least a couple weeks away from being ready to return from the 60-day injured list, Thomson acknowledged that the right-hander will likely work out of the Philadelphia bullpen once activated. The Phillies already found a replacement in the rotation for Eflin at the trade deadline, when the team acquired Noah Syndergaard from the Angels.