Blue Jays left-hander Eric Lauer might be on the outside looking in Toronto's rotation
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With the odds working against him, Eric Lauer is battling for a role in the Toronto Blue Jays starting rotation this spring.
Eric Lauer made a strong first impression in the Toronto Blue Jays Grapefruit League opener last week, tossing a clean inning aside from a single while recording a strikeout.
It was a sharp, efficient outing, but it doesn't necessarily change his current standing on the depth chart.
At the moment, the 30-year-old appears to be slotted as the club's sixth starter.
That designation would likely place him in a long relief role to begin the season, though it wouldn't take much for that to change.
One injury could quickly open the door to a rotation opportunity.
Lauer is no stranger to bouncing between roles. In 2025, he logged 104 2/3 innings across 15 starts and 13 relief appearances, finishing with a solid 3.18 ERA.
He also contributed in October, making five postseason appearances and posting the same 3.18 ERA.
Lauer would prefer a permanent rotation spot over hybrid role
Speaking to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, Lauer acknowledged that he'd prefer a permanent spot in the rotation, a natural desire for most starting pitchers.
Eric Lauer reiterated that he's most comfortable as a starter and believes that ending 2025 in the bullpen hurt his arbitration case:
«Preparing as a starter is what I've always done. Last year, I showed that I can work off of that. That's the game plan.» #BlueJays
«Preparing as a starter is what I've always done. Last year, I showed that I can work off of that. That's the game plan.» #BlueJays
Toronto obviously values his flexibility and durability, particularly given the organization's shaky depth.
The Blue Jays' pitching reserves come with question marks. Bowden Francis will miss the entire season following Tommy John surgery.
Jake Bloss and Ricky Tiedemann are both recovering from elbow procedures, while Adam Macko has yet to debut. Lazaro Estrada has just two major league appearances, and Yariel Rodriguez remains in camp but off the active roster.
Keeping Lauer stretched out offers insurance. However, the picture could change quickly.
If Shane Bieber returns sooner than expected and if the club reunites with free agent Max Scherzer, Lauer could slide further down the pecking order.
Should that happen, Toronto may weigh the value of dealing him rather than burying a capable arm deep in the bullpen.
For now, though, Lauer remains firmly in the mix, even if the path to a starting job isn't entirely clear.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 23|112 ANSWERS Blue Jays left-hander Eric Lauer might be on the outside looking in Toronto's rotation Do you think Eric Lauer will make the Blue Jays rotation? | ||
| Yes | 59 | 52.7 % |
| No | 20 | 17.9 % |
| Long man | 33 | 29.5 % |
| List of polls | ||