Report: Blue Jays sign Eric Lauer to a minor-league deal

Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported that if the left-handed pitcher makes the big league roster, he’ll earn $2.2 million and has some incentives to make even more.

Thankfully, this won’t be the Blue Jays’ big move this off-season. The 29-year-old was selected 25th overall in the 2016 draft and has had some success in the big leagues in the past. Back in 2022 with the Milwaukee Brewers, he had a 3.69 ERA and a 4.50 FIP in 158.2 innings pitched in 29 starts, with a 23.8 K% and an 8.9 BB%.

Lauer’s career year came in 2021, also with the Brewers, as he had a 3.19 ERA and a 4.04 FIP in 118.2 innings pitched, with a 23.9 K% and an 8.4 BB%. His last season in the big leagues was in 2023, where he had a 6.56 ERA and a 7.41 FIP in 46.2 innings pitched.

In 2024, he split time between Triple-A teams for the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as the Korean Baseball Organization. Overseas, Lauer had a 4.93 ERA and a 4.04 FIP in 34.2 innings pitched, with a 24.7 K% and an 8 BB%. In Triple-A, he had a 5.26 ERA and a 4.74 FIP in 75.1 innings pitched.

With this move, the Blue Jays add a left-handed pitcher to their starting rotation depth, something they desperately need as their rotation is filled with righties. That’s putting the cart before the horse though, as Lauer will need to earn a spot out of Spring Training. If he pitches anything like he did in 2023 and 2024, that doesn’t seem likely.

In terms of depth options for the Blue Jays rotation next season, Ricky Tiedemann and Alek Manoah will be back in the second half of next season, leaving Easton Lucas as the only realistic starting pitching depth. After the Jays claimed him on waivers, Lucas had a 1.37 ERA and a 2.50 FIP in 19.2 innings pitched with the Buffalo Bisons, with three of his six appearances being starts.

All things considered, this is a pretty good depth pickup if Lauer can return to the form he had in 2022 with the Brewers. The Blue Jays surely aren’t done, as there have been conflicting reports about their interest in ace starter Corbin Burnes. If they don’t land him, they would still like to add a starting pitcher, that much is certain.