Boston Red Sox Reportedly Offered $40 Million Contract to Zach Eflin

The Boston Red Sox offered former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin the same three-year, $40 million contract that the Tampa Bay Rays signed him to, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Thursday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to terms with free agent pitcher Zach Eflin, on what will be the largest free agent contract in Tampa Bay Rays franchise history. The Rays were not the only team from the American League East in on Eflin, however.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale is reporting that the Boston Red Sox offered the right-handed pitcher the same three-year, $40 million contract that Eflin agreed to with the Rays.

The Boston #RedSox offered the same contract for Eflin, but he lives in nearby Orlando, so #Rays had home-field advantage https://t.co/rZnxMFWWpB

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 2, 2022

According to Nightengale, Eflin lives in Orlando, and chose to play in his home state instead of Massachusetts.

Eflin will receive more of his $40 million contract in Florida than he would if he were to play in Boston. The state of Florida does not have a state income tax, unlike Massachusetts. Massachusetts has a 5% tax on both earned and unearned income. Thus, the Red Sox miss out on the 28-year-old former Philadelphia Phillie.

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