Blue Jays make Eric Lauer decision that unfortunately had to happen

Blue Jays make Eric Lauer decision that unfortunately had to happen originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays are trying to bounce back from a shaky start to the season, one riddled with injuries to stars in both the lineup and the pitching staff.

But one of the mainstays of the pitching staff this season was Eric Lauer. He wasn't hurt, and he made eight appearances this season, six starts, and threw 36.1 innings in total.

However, as the Blue Jays announced on Monday afternoon, they decided to designate him for assignment. Lauer was cut by Toronto, and it was a decision they really had little choice but to make.

This is an unfortunate end for Eric Lauer in Toronto

In the Blue Jays announcement, they selected Yariel Rodriguez to the MLB roster, and made the following move: "LHP Eric Lauer designated for assignment."

Lauer's time in Toronto is up, as his struggles during the 2026 season were just too much for the Blue Jays to handle.

Through 36.1 innings of work, Lauer allowed a 6.69 ERA with a 1.49 WHIP. His most recent outing was a six-run outing across five innings that, simply put, was not acceptable.

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This is a major shame for the Blue Jays and their lefty, as Lauer was a very solid player for them last season. He posted a 3.12 ERA in five outings in the postseason and a 3.18 ERA across 28 games and 104.2 innings pitched during the regular season.

Ideally, he would've remained on the team as a quality depth pitcher who could move to the bullpen when the starters got healthy.

But his struggles this season forced the Blue Jays' hand, and they decided that designating him for assignment was the best course of action.

There's still a chance that a team comes along and offers the Blue Jays a trade to acquire Lauer before he hits waivers. The 30-year-old will be on the move, and the only question is where he will end up this season.