Breaking: Blue Jays DFA Pitcher After Tough Start to the Year

He was being counted on to play a big part on the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff this season, after an excellent 2025 campaign. But left-hander Eric Lauer has simply struggled this year, with a 6.69 ERA across 36.1 innings. And it's no mirage, either, as he also has a 6.98 FIP.

He's now been designated for assignment.

News: The #BlueJays have designated Eric Lauer for assignment.

Yariel Rodríguez takes his spot on the roster.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) May 11, 2026

Lauer has shuffled between starting and relieving in his two seasons in Toronto. Last year, he performed in any way he was called on, posting a 3.18 ERA in 28 appearances, 15 of them starts. He also had an excellent 1.10 WHIP and a 102:26 strikeout to walk ratio. In 8.2 playoff innings, he contributed a 3.12 ERA.

In 2026, however, the soft-tossing southpaw just couldn't get it going. The Jays said from the beginning this season that their pitching decisions would be strictly a meritocracy. If you perform, you're in; if not, you're out.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider on the reason for Eric Lauer’s DFA: pic.twitter.com/YESJijgCX0
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) May 11, 2026

Jays manager John Schneider said, "Just results. Tough conversation because of what he did last year... Just felt like we needed to go in a different direction. That's it. Those conversations suck. Baseball is hard. Hopefully, he can get back to the stuff being where it was last year."

That, unfortunately, will have to be elsewhere.

Over an eight-year career, Lauer has a 4.26 ERA with 133 starts in 156 appearances.

Yariel Rodríguez has been recalled and takes Lauer's spot on the Toronto roster.