Orioles biggest offseason regret called $10 million signing that was MLB's worst move

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The Baltimore Orioles are not having the 2026 season they were hoping for. While it's not a complete disaster just yet, their 22-29 record is the worst in the American League East, though they're just 2.5 games out of the AL Wild Card race.

With such a poor record, it wouldn't be a surprise for the team to have plenty of regrets from their offseason. The Shane Baz trade hasn't worked out at all, and the Orioles also missed on the Chris Bassitt signing.

However, as Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller identified, there's a different move that warrants the team's biggest regret this offseason. That move? The $10 million free agent signing of Zach Eflin.

"Offseason Regret: Re-Signing Zach Eflin," Miller writes. "... And yet, the Orioles brought him back for $10M - only to lose him to Tommy John surgery after one appearance in March."

The Orioles' signing of Eflin to a $10 million contract isn't just their biggest regret, but it might be the worst move of the entire MLB offseason.

Orioles' $10M Zach Eflin deal might be worst of offseason​

The Orioles spent $10 million on Eflin to rejoin the starting rotation. They needed starting pitching help pretty desperately, and used $10 million of their available spending power to bring Eflin back.

But, he didn't provide anything for the Orioles this season. He is out for the entire 2026 season and never even made an appearance for the team this season.

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If the Orioles hadn't spent this much on Eflin, they might've been able to seek out help for the rotation in the form of a better frontline starter like a Framber Valdez in free agency.

But they opted for Eflin and Bassitt, which has backfired spectacularly. The $10 million, not a small amount, spent on Eflin has completely gone to waste. That money could've been very useful to the Orioles. Instead, it's a non-factor.

At least other teams have gotten something out of their biggest regrets. The Orioles haven't gotten anything from Eflin despite spending $10 million on him. It's not his fault, but Eflin's signing has been a complete negative for the Orioles this year.

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