Eric Lauer was far from the hottest name on the offseason free agent starting pitching market. Still, the Padres were interested enough in a potential reunion with the veteran left-hander to kick the tires on bringing him back, according to The Athletic.
Cross another name off the list of potential rotation reinforcements. Lauer is headed to the National League East on a minor league contract, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
Lauer, 28, went 14-17 with a 4.40 earned-run average from 2018-19 with San Diego. The Padres traded Lauer and Luis Urias along to the Milwaukee Brewers for Zach Davies and Trent Grisham in Nov. 2019.
Lauer spent the last four years in Milwaukee, going 22-20 with a 4.22 ERA. He was limited to nine starts last season due to a shoulder injury.
The Padres' current starting rotation projects to include five right-handed pitchers (Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez) with only Adrian Morejon holding an outside chance of adding a left-hander to the group.
Cost was almost certainly not an issue, as Lauer would not even need to be paid the major league minimum until or unless he makes the 26-man roster.
But the Padres have appeared committed to their young group of starters behind Musgrove and Darvish since the outset of winter. Losing out on Lauer only reaffirms that commitment.
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