Blue Jays Make Pair of Roster Moves Including DFA’ing 8-Year MLB Pitcher
The Toronto Blue Jays are making some changes to their roster as the team announced they gave DFA'd Eric Lauer.
heavy.comHere’s the latest on Eric Lauer and the Blue Jays DFA situation.
Direct answer
- The Toronto Blue Jays designated left-hander Eric Lauer for assignment in May 2026, moving Yariel Rodríguez into a rotation role and reshuffling other roster pieces.[3][5][7]
Details you might find helpful
- Lauer’s 2026 season had been rough: a 1-5 record with a 6.69 ERA through his appearances, fueling the decision to DFA him after a particularly poor outing.[1][5]
- The team trainer/manager comments framed the DFA as a results-driven move, acknowledging Lauer’s earlier contributions but noting the rotation needed a different path going forward.[7][3]
- After DFA, Lauer would either be claimed on waivers or become a free agent if unclaimed; teams typically weigh his veteran experience against potential minor-league assignment constraints in that process.[3]
Context and related notes
- Lauer had been with the Blue Jays since 2024–25 era and had posted solid work earlier, but the 2026 performance deteriorated enough to prompt roster changes tied to their pursuit of better depth and stability in the rotation.[8][1]
- Coverage also mentions organizational rationale tied to adding other arms and prioritizing health/injury considerations for Addison Barger and other players, which intersect with rotation decisions like Lauer’s DFA.[7][3]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official team statements or compile a brief timeline of the key games that influenced this DFA decision. I can also summarize potential next destinations for Lauer based on recent waiver/agent reports.