Eric Lauer and the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves at a crossroads, and it's not due to any missteps by either party. Last season, Lauer stepped up when the Blue Jays' rotation was hit by injuries, delivering solid performances throughout the summer. However, with the additions of Max Scherzer, Trey Yesavage, and Shane Bieber after the trade deadline, Lauer was moved to the bullpen as the season wound down.
After losing his arbitration case, which cost him $1.35 million, Lauer has made it clear he isn’t keen on returning to the bullpen this year. This has sparked speculation that a trade might be on the horizon, especially if Toronto’s rotation remains intact and they decide to re-sign Scherzer, as recent rumors suggest.
Mitch Bannon of The Athletic hinted that if the Blue Jays head into the season with a healthy rotation, Lauer could be on the move. "Having too many starters is a good problem," Bannon noted.
"But as spring progresses, the reality of the rotation may become unavoidable. A trade could be the answer."
Teams like the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves, who have already faced some spring pitching injuries, might be interested in Lauer, especially given his reasonable $4.4 million salary for a starting pitcher. Lauer, a seven-year veteran, posted a career-high 2.2 bWAR last season, with a 9-2 record and a 3.18 ERA over 104 2/3 innings.
As it stands, Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Yesavage, Cody Ponce, and José Berríos are likely to secure rotation spots ahead of Lauer. If Lauer seeks a guaranteed role, there are surely teams out there ready to make a deal.