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It turns out Eric Lauer trade rumors had some validity after Dodgers' injury news

Miss opportunity.
ByEvan Roberts
St. Louis Cardinals v Los Angeles Dodgers
St. Louis Cardinals v Los Angeles Dodgers | Meg Oliphant/GettyImages

Los Angeles Dodgers fans were delivered a couple pieces of important news at the end of last week — Josue De Paula was promoted to the major league roster and Shohei Ohtani was placed on the injured list.

Dave Roberts told reporters that Ohtani could still return before the end of the regular season, so Dodgers fans can enjoy De Paula's tryout for the postseason roster while still knowing that the two-way superstar will return before their march towards a potential three-peat.

In order to add De Paula to the 40-man roster, Eric Lauer was placed on the 60-day injured list. Lauer's season, and likely his Dodgers tenure (he is on an expiring deal), is over; meaning the Dodgers would have been better off trading him at the deadline.

The Eric Lauer trade rumors had validity after Dodgers roster move

The Dodgers acquired Lauer in exchange for cash after he was DFA'd by the Toronto Blue Jays. Right up until the trade deadline, the 31-year-old southpaw was sticking it to his former team by thriving with the organization that defeated them in the World Series.

Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic (subscription required) reported back in July that the Dodgers could have off-loaded Lauer at the trade deadline despite his fantastic results:

"Still, the Dodgers could look to improve on the margins as long as it doesn’t cost them a piece of their promising future core. That’s where Lauer comes in. He’s been serviceable as the Dodgers’ sixth starter (and given how critical that is to the health of Yamamoto and Ohtani, he’s essentially saved their rotation). Lauer is also a free agent at the end of the season, and contenders always covet starting pitching at the deadline."

Lauer's prolific two-month stint with the Dodgers was fun to watch after his drama with the Blue Jays. He even could have been a sneaky candidate to make the postseason roster given his 5⅔ scoreless innings in the 2025 World Series.

The Dodgers, however, could've acquired some minor-league talent at the deadline by flipping a player they acquired for cash a couple months prior. The Dodgers could not have foreseen Lauer's injury, but they are likely kicking themselves for not trading him when they had the chance.

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