Dodgers Acquire Eric Lauer – MLB Trade Rumors
2:37PM: Both groups have formally introduced the transfer, which is Lauer and money concerns heading to Los Angeles in change for a participant to be named later or money concerns. Right-hander Brusdar Graterol was moved from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL to be able to create house for Lauer on the 40-man roster.
2:08PM: The Dodgers are buying left-hander Eric Lauer from the Blue Jays, The Athletic’s Katie Woo experiences. The Blue Jays designated Lauer for project final week and there hadn’t been any phrase on Lauer’s standing on the waiver wire. Woo’s preliminary report indicated that Lauer had signed with Los Angeles (and thus cleared waivers and was both launched, or Lauer rejected an outright project in favor of free company), however her up to date report states that “the process is still being configured,” which may imply the Dodgers and Jays are figuring out some form of minor commerce.
The Dodgers will owe Lauer simply the prorated portion of the MLB minimal wage, and that quantity will likely be subtracted from the roughly $3.2MM remaining on Lauer’s 2026 wage. The Blue Jays will in any other case cowl the remainder of that $3.2MM sum, except some extra cash is kicked in from the Dodgers as a part of a commerce.
Lauer posted stable numbers as a starter and swingman with the Padres and Brewers from 2018-22, however his profession was at a crossroads after a tough 2023 marketing campaign. The left-hander did not pitch within the huge leagues in any respect in 2024, as he spent his time within the minors with the Astros and Pirates and in addition had a stint within the KBO League with the Kia Tigers. Toronto inked Lauer to a minor league contract within the 2024-25 offseason, and he ended up being one of many unsung heroes of the Jays’ run to the American League crown.
Initially referred to as up as an extended reliever and bulk pitcher, Lauer was moved right into a full-fledged beginning position by June earlier than being shifted again into bullpen work in September and all through the postseason. Lauer posted a 3.18 ERA, 23.9% strikeout price, and 6.1% stroll price throughout 104 2/3 common-season innings after which delivered a 3.12 ERA in 8 2/3 playoff frames.
Despite these stable numbers, the Jays nonetheless seen Lauer as a swingman or depth choice heading into 2026, as Toronto addressed the rotation by signing Dylan Cease and Cody Ponceafter which assembly with Max Scherzer. However, destiny intervened once more with a swath of accidents that rapidly thinned the Blue Jays’ pitching depth, leaving Lauer once more in a beginning job.
This time, Lauer got here again to earth. He posted a 6.69 ERA over 36 1/3 innings and eight outings this season, and his 16K% and 9.9BB% additionally went within the improper course from 2025. Lauer wasn’t solely wholesome himself as he battled by means of a nasty case of the flu, however there additionally gave the impression to be some discord between the left-hander and the crew over his utilization. Lauer went public along with his displeasure over first his lack of beginning alternatives, after which the Jays’ resolution to make use of an opener for a few of Lauer’s outings.
Ironically, Lauer now finds himself on a crew identified for non-conventional pitching deployment, so it would not be a shock if the Dodgers once more use an opener if Lauer is lined as much as face a crew with a number of robust proper-handed batters atop a lineup. That assumes Lauer will begin in any respect, although that’s in all probability the likeliest situation given the crew’s rotation wants.
Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are each on the injured record, leaving Los Angeles with two holes in its most well-liked six-man rotation mannequin. Roki Sasaki‘s beginning job can be lower than secure given the best-hander’s shaky begin to the 2026 marketing campaign, although Sasaki would possibly retain his rotation position simply by dint of a scarcity of different choices. Lauer might be inserted alongside Sasaski, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleskiand Emmett Sheehan. Down on the farm, River Ryan could be approaching readiness for a return to the majors as effectively, so the Dodgers once more discover themselves within the odd place of each technically having a rotation surplus, let additionally a scarcity of arms.