Eric Lauer's performance with Dodgers is making Blue Jays regret their decision

The Toronto Blue Jays watched Eric Lauer serve up home runs like he was getting paid per souvenir while he complaining about his role, and decided they’d seen enough. He was designated for assignment in May and ultimately traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for nothing more than a little walking-around money.

Toronto wanted the roster spot back, and the Dodgers wanted someone to give them some innings they'd inevitably need when a starter or three went on the shelf. Nobody in that transaction was expecting a crazy, turnaround redemption story. Maybe everyone should have seen that coming.

Eric Lauer has been everything for the Dodgers that he wasn't for the Blue Jays

Lauer's performance hasn't been season-altering or anything, but it's quite good. He's thrown 22⅓ innings with a 3.22 ERA. It’s a far cry from the 6.69 ERA he posted with the Blue Jays in 36⅓ innings. He’s the same pitcher in the same season, but with two totally different stories after a flight out west.

What should really get the Blue Jays fans riled up is that when the Dodgers picked him up, they didn’t even think he would be a rotation piece. Dave Roberts looked at him as a reliever/swingman. They thought he’d be a lefty to eat those low-leverage innings that every team has throughout the season. It was hard to know how it would work out, but it certainly seemed like a worthwhile risk.

Then Blake Snell needed surgery, and Tyler Glasnow’s back flared up again, and Lauer was put into the rotation out of necessity. And his first start against the Colorado Rockies was the first hint that maybe this would work out in the end. It’s about time something good happened for the Dodgers.

Lauer has certainly not been shy about his disdain for the end of his Blue Jays tenure. He’s made a few pointed comments since the trade, and honestly, when you go from DFA’d to a 3.22 ERA on the two-time defending champs within a month, you probably get to gloat a little. He was a big part of the Blue Jays getting this close to a World Series title with a 3.18 ERA in 28 appearances, and they soured on him quickly.

The best part for the Dodgers is that his resurgence is more than a feel-good footnote. His ability to find success has allowed them to keep River Ryan in AAA, building back up, rather than having to bring him up because they need someone to make starts. Ryan is borderline untouchable in trade talks precisely because the bet on Lauer has bought them a little time. 

While he allowed his most runs with the Dodgers in his last start (three), he has talked about settling in after a rough first inning instead of letting the bad snowball. That’s what buried him in Toronto. To be clear, none of this paints him as an ace or anything like that. Everyone knows that his profile is volatile. A fastball that sits at 91 MPH is ripe to be hit when he's not perfect. He has insane reverse platoon splits in 2026 (though no real career splits), which leaves him vulnerable. He will absolutely give up some home runs. That's why he's been available for very little each of the last two seasons.

A four-start sample doesn't change any of that, but it also doesn't mean he's not wildly valuable. To get someone like this for cash for a team that simply needs some help to get through the season before the real games start in October, it’s been a steal, and every clean start he makes for the Dodgers is a quiet reminder to Toronto that they blinked first. It sure looks like another Dodgers win over the Blue Jays.

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