Eric Lauer loses Arbitration case versus Toronto Blue Jays

According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the arbitrator sided with the club’s $4.4 million salary figure rather than Lauer’s requested $5.75 million.

Lauer, a native of Elyria, Ohio, returned to the majors with Toronto in 2025 after spending the previous season in the KBO with the Kia Tigers.

He made 28 appearances for the Blue Jays, including 15 starts, and posted a 9-2 record with a 3.18 ERA and 1.108 WHIP across 104.2 innings.

The lefty struck out 102 batters while issuing just 26 walks. He also appeared five times during the postseason — including two outings in the World Series — logging 8.2 innings.

Originally selected by Toronto in the 2013 MLB Draft out of high school, Lauer opted to attend Kent State before being chosen 25th overall by the San Diego Padres in 2016.

Prior to his stint in Gwangju, he made 120 appearances over six seasons with the Padres and Milwaukee Brewers.

With Shane Bieber expected to begin the season on the injured list due to forearm soreness and Bowden Francis sidelined for the year following Tommy John surgery, Lauer could be in line for a larger role in Toronto’s rotation rather than working out of the bullpen.

The Blue Jays’ starting depth also includes Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce and Jose Berrios.

This marks Toronto’s first arbitration case since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won his $19.9 million filing over the team’s $18.05 million offer in 2024.

Prior to that decision, the Blue Jays had won three consecutive cases, prevailing against Roberto Osuna and Marcus Stroman in 2018 and Ryan Tepera in 2019.

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