The Dodgers are acquiring left-hander Eric Lauer from the Blue Jays, The Athletic’s Katie Woo reports. The Blue Jays designated Lauer for assignment last week and there hadn’t been any word on Lauer’s status on the waiver wire. Woo’s initial report indicated that Lauer had signed with Los Angeles (and thus cleared waivers and was either released, or Lauer rejected an outright assignment in favor of free agency), but her updated report states that “the process is still being configured,” which could mean the Dodgers and Jays are working out some kind of minor trade.
Because Lauer has more than five years of MLB service time, he had the ability to both reject an outright assignment and still retain the rest of the approximately $3.2MM still owed on his $4.4MM salary. The Dodgers will owe Lauer just the prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary, and that number will be subtracted from the $3.2MM sum that will be otherwise covered by the Blue Jays. This salary situation should stand regardless of how Lauer is exactly acquired by the Dodgers, unless some extra money is kicked in as part of a trade.
Lauer posted solid numbers as a starter and swingman with the Padres and Brewers from 2018-22, but his career was at a crossroads after a rough 2023 campaign. The left-hander didn’t pitch in the big leagues at all in 2024, as he spent his time in the minors with the Astros and Pirates and also had a stint in the KBO League with the Kia Tigers. Toronto inked Lauer to a minor league contract in the 2024-25 offseason, and he ended up being one of the unsung heroes of the Jays’ run to the American League crown.
Initially called up as a long reliever and bulk pitcher, Lauer was moved into a full-fledged starting role by June before being shifted back into bullpen work in September and throughout the postseason. Lauer posted a 3.18 ERA, 23.9% strikeout rate, and 6.1% walk rate across 104 2/3 regular-season innings and then delivered a 3.12 ERA in 8 2/3 playoff frames.
More to come…
