The Toronto Blue Jays have designated lefty swing-man Eric Lauer for assignment, and I think that bears noting for a few obvious reasons.
The Chicago Cubs, of course, are pretty darn hard up for capable big league pitching right now – particularly pitching with some meaningful upside. The 30-year-old lefty wouldn’t be DFA’d if there weren’t real issues, but Lauer has had some significant success at times in the big leagues:
You probably notice right there – if you didn’t remember already – that Lauer was with the Brewers for several years together with Craig Counsell. So there may be a connection there already, whereby Counsell knows well what Lauer can (or cannot) bring to the Cubs if they pick him up.
I don’t want to understate the 2026 issues for Eric Lauer, though. There’s a reason the Blue Jays are punting him: the velocity is way down, the strikeouts are way down, the walks are up, the hard contact is way up, the home run rate is obscene, etc., etc. Clearly, there have been serious issues for him in the early going, and picking Lauer up is worth it for the Cubs only if they believe there are specific things they can help him correct.
Let’s be clear: the chances that Eric Lauer comes in and is an impact pitcher for the Cubs this season would be very remote. But those are often the only swings available to you in mid-May, and if you can get the guy for just about free, why not go for it?
About that. Something important to keep in mind here: if the Cubs go out and pick him up on waivers, they would be taking on his contract. This is not a fringe 40-man guy making the minimum. Instead, Lauer’s $4.4 million 2026 salary goes with him if he doesn’t clear waivers and hit free agency. Do the Cubs want to commit $3-ish million to an Eric Lauer reclamation project? I tend to doubt it, given Lauer’s struggles this year (including a pretty noticeable dip in velocity).
Instead, what might happen is the Cubs could trade for Eric Lauer, while having the Blue Jays retain some of his salary. It’d be a very minor deal, to be sure, but it might be worth it if the Cubs have budgetary limits that could otherwise constrict them at the Trade Deadline when the really big pitcher trade(s) could/should happen.
Alternatively, the Cubs could just cross their fingers that Eric Lauer clears waivers, is outrighted, and elects free agency. From there, the Cubs would have free rein to sign him to a minor league deal or a league minimum deal. So, too, would every other club, of course, but the Cubs’ ability to help pitchers get back on track, their superlative defense, and the Counsell connection might be the tiebreaker. If I’m Lauer, I’m not sure there’s a better spot to land.
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