SEATTLE, WA – MAY 11: Relief pitcher Eric Lauer #56 of the Toronto Blue Jays is congratulated by teammates in the dugout during the seventh inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 11, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays entered the 2026 season with one of the deepest projected starting rotations in baseball, but that depth came at a cost. One veteran pitcher who hoped to remain in the rotation after an impressive playoff run instead found himself squeezed out of the club’s long-term plans.
Just a few months later, that same pitcher has become an unlikely success story with the Los Angeles Dodgers. And after surviving the trade deadline, he made it clear how much he appreciates the way his new organization handled the situation.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Disgruntled Castoff Praises Los Angeles Dodgers Trade Deadline Message
The Dodgers’ recent pickup, Eric Lauer, appeared to be one of the more obvious trade candidates before this year’s deadline. The veteran left-hander had excelled after joining the Dodgers from the Blue Jays’ DFA list, but he also understood his roster spot could disappear once the club’s injured starters returned.
“Though the veteran left-hander has surpassed expectations in his brief tenure with the club, going 5–0 with a 2.96 ERA in nine outings (all of which have been Dodgers wins to boot), he also knew he was serving as a temporary fill-in for their banged-up starting rotation, leaving his roster spot tenuous for the stretch run of the season,” Jack Harris noted for the New York Post. “By the time Monday arrived, though, Lauer had an inkling that he might not end up getting dealt.”
Once the deadline passed without a trade, Lauer praised the transparency shown by the Dodgers’ front office during the process, something he had pushed against in Toronto.
“I think it’s very rare,” he added of the front office’s openness with him, per Harris. “I’ve never been given this option. I’ve never been told this much about what was going on. So, it’s just another testament to the communication here. It’s top of the line, really.”
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Pitcher’s Toronto Blue Jays Exit Came After Public Grievance
Lauer’s comments about the Dodgers stand in contrast to how his tenure ended in Toronto after he turned to the media to air out some grievances.
“Coming into 2026, there was a time where it looked like Lauer would again be pushed to a bullpen role,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “The Jays had signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, in addition to re-signing Max Scherzer. With those three joining Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, (Trey) Yesavage and (Shane) Bieber, it looked like quite a crowded group. Lauer … seemed less than enthused, telling reporters that he preferred to be a starter.”
And Lauer’s public frustration with the team and his role dated back even further. After losing an arbitration hearing with Toronto following the team’ American League pennant win, Lauer publicly expressed disappointment that his move to the bullpen late in 2025 had hurt both his role and earning potential.
Now, however, the 31-year-old has found stability with the Dodgers. Instead of being viewed as expendable after the deadline, Lauer remains part of one of baseball’s top contenders — and based on his comments, the organization’s communication has left a lasting impression after a turbulent finish to his Blue Jays tenure.
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