And while the team’s main big-ticket (relatively speaking, at $40 million over three years) addition last offseason, Zach Eflin, has been more human, he still was off to a 2-0 start before landing on the IL with back tightness.

Source: https://nypost.com/2023/04/13/who-are-the-low-budget-rays-making-baseball-history/

BALTIMORE (AP) — Zach Eflin and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, Brandon Lowe and Harold Ramírez homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-1 on Friday night to pull into a virtual tie atop the AL East.

Source: https://www.mymotherlode.com/sports/baseball-game-stories/3228476/zach-eflin-and-the-rays-limit-the-orioles-to-2-hits-win-7-1-to-pull-even-in-al-east.html

Bassitt tied Tampa Bay’s Zach Eflin for the A-L lead in wins.

Source: https://www.989xfm.ca/sports-roundup-september-23/

More recently, the Red Sox were beaten out last winter by the Tampa Bay Rays for Zach Eflin, who reportedly chose between two identical three-year, $40 million offers.

Source: https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/12/24/lineup-projection-red-sox-counting-on-trevor-story-triston-casas-in-2024/

Rays starter Zach Eflin (12-7) surrendered a season-high six runs in just three innings.

Source: https://deadspin.com/mlb-roundup-nats-rally-with-six-run-ninth-to-edge-as-1850734088

They signed Pete Fairbanks, Yandy Diaz, and former Red Sox pitcher Jeffrey Springs to extensions and nabbed free agent Zach Eflin, who’d received an identical three-year, $40 million offer from the Red Sox.

Source: https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/03/26/red-sox-opening-day-american-league-east-division-preview/