The Blue Jays signed Lauer to a minor-league contract on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Lauer split the 2024 season between the Triple-A level in the Pirates' and Astros' systems, where he had a combined 5.26 ERA in 75.1 innings, and the Korea Baseball Organization, where he held a 4.93 ERA in 34.2 frames. The 29-year-old lefty will likely begin the 2025 season as rotation depth at Triple-A Buffalo.
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Eric Lauer: Headed to KBO
Rotowire
Lauer agreed to a contract Thursday with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization, Daniel Kim of MBC Sports+ reports.
Lauer was released by the Astros on Thursday, but he quickly found a new opportunity. He'll head to Korea for the remainder of the 2024 season before becoming a free agent, leaving the door open for him to return to affiliated ball in 2025.
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Eric Lauer: Hits free agency
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Lauer was released by the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Lauer was in the Triple-A Sugar Land rotation since signing with Houston on May 20. He struggled to a 5.09 ERA and 1.65 WHIP across 46 innings and has now has unsuccessful stints with both Houston's and Pittsburgh's Triple-A affiliates in 2024.
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Astros' Eric Lauer: Lands with Houston
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Lauer signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The veteran left-hander opted out of his minor-league pact with the Pirates last week and didn't take long to latch on with a new organization. Lauer had a 5.52 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB across 29.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis, and he may need to post better results for Houston's Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land in order to receive a look in the big leagues. His contract includes opt-outs for July 1 and August 1 if he's not on the major-league roster.
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Eric Lauer: Released by Pittsburgh
Rotowire
The Pirates released Lauer on Thursday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Lauer had an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with Pittsburgh and has chosen to exercise it. The left-hander posted a 5.56 ERA over 29.1 innings during his time with Triple-A Indianapolis, but his 37:11 K:BB was more promising. Lauer, 28, shouldn't have trouble landing another gig elsewhere, although it's possible he'll have to accept another minor-league deal.
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Pirates' Eric Lauer: Signs with Pirates
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Lauer was signed by the Pirates on a minor-league deal Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Lauer elected free agency in October after the Brewers did not want to give him a raise in arbitration. In 2023, the lefty posted a 6.56 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 46.2 innings. The 28-year-old has had better years, having posted a 3.84 ERA over 288.1 innings during his time in Milwaukee from 2020-22.
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Eric Lauer: Opts for free agency
Rotowire
Lauer elected free agency Monday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The Brewers understandably didn't want to give Lauer a raise via arbitration after he posted a 6.56 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 46.2 innings this season. He's just 28 years old and posted a 3.84 ERA and 286:109 K:BB over 288.1 innings for Milwaukee from 2020-22, so the left-hander shouldn't have trouble finding another opportunity elsewhere.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Outrighted to Nashville
Rotowire
Lauer cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Nashville, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Lauer struggled to get things going with the Brewers in 2023, accumulating a 6.56 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 46.2 innings in 10 appearances. He reserves the right to elect free agency, but other teams will likely have to see signs of improvement before giving Lauer another shot in a big-league rotation.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Returns to minors
Rotowire
Lauer was optioned to the Arizona Complez League on Sunday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Lauer was promoted Saturday for his first appearance in the big leagues since May, but he was tagged for three homers and eight earned runs by the Cubs. The left-hander began the season in the starting rotation but is a potential DFA candidate this offseason after he posted a 6.56 ERA over 46.2 innings for the Brewers this year.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Hit hard in return
Rotowire
Lauer (4-6) took the loss Saturday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and four walks over four innings against the Cubs. He struck out two.
Chicago handed Lauer a rude welcome in his first big-league appearance since being demoted to Triple-A in June as the Cubs tallied six runs in the opening frame on three home runs. The 28-year-old southpaw surrendered two more scores in the fourth and will close the chapter on a disappointing 2023 campaign with a 4-6 record, 6.56 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 43:24 K:BB, while serving up 16 home runs in just 46.2 innings this season.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Promotion official
Rotowire
The Brewers recalled Lauer from Triple-A Nashville to start Saturday against the Cubs.
Lauer will be making his first start in the majors since May 20, when he gave up six earned runs over three innings against the Rays. The 28-year-old southpaw put up a 5.48 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with the Brewers before being sent down to Nashville, where he recorded similar numbers. Though his numbers may not warrant a promotion, Lauer's arrival will help the Brewers keep Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta fresh for the postseason. Clayton Andrews and Caleb Boushley were both optioned to the Arizona Complex League in corresponding moves.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Back in bigs, starting Saturday
Rotowire
The Brewers will recall Lauer from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday to start their penultimate game of the regular season versus the Cubs at American Family Field, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
After opening the season as the Brewers' No. 3 starter, Lauer posted a 5.48 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB over 42.2 innings across his first nine appearances (eight starts) with the big club before landing on the 15-day injured list May 22 with an impingement in his non-throwing shoulder and then getting optioned to the minors once activated June 13. Following his reinstatement from the IL, Lauer spent several weeks at the Brewers' complex in Arizona before returning to minor-league action in late July. He eventually moved on to Triple-A Nashville and turned in his best start of the season in his most recent outing Sept. 22, striking out 10 while allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings. Lauer will now get the chance to make his first start with the Brewers since May, and though he doesn't look to be a realistic option for the team's postseason pitching staff, a positive showing Saturday could help him land a big-league deal elsewhere this winter. The 28-year-old southpaw is set for a raise in arbitration from the $5.08 million salary he earned in 2023, and the Brewers are likely to non-tender him and allow him to explore his options in free agency.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Makes start in rookie ball
Rotowire
Lauer struck out two batters and gave up no hits and one walk in a one-inning start Friday for the Brewers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate.
The one-inning outing was Lauer's first at any level since June 11, when he made his last start at Triple-A Nashville before being placed on the temporary inactive list due to an undisclosed health issue. Lauer may have used the time off to workshop his mechanics, after he had struggled to keep the ball in the yard over his nine outings with Milwaukee (13 home runs in 42.2 innings) prior to landing on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement. Lauer continued to struggle in his two rehab starts with Nashville before he was activated from the IL and optioned to the minors. The veteran southpaw may make a few more appearances in Arizona before eventually reporting back to Nashville.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Optioned after coming off IL
Rotowire
Milwaukee reinstated Lauer (shoulder) off the 10-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "We want to get him right, to be healthy and be a contributor," Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said.
Lauer was placed on the 15-day injured list May 22 with an impingement in his non-throwing shoulder, and the southpaw struggled in his rehab start Sunday with Nashville, allowing seven runs (five earned) in two innings. Lauer was an effective part of the Milwaukee rotation in 2022, but he'll remain in the PCL until the Brewers deem him worthy of a roster spot again this summer.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Beginning rehab assignment Tuesday
Rotowire
Lauer (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Lauer expects to make a couple of outings with Nashville before he'll be ready to return from the 15-day injured list, according to McCalvy . The left-hander was placed on the IL on May 22 due to an impingement of his non-throwing shoulder and logged a 5.48 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 42.2 innings across nine appearances (eight starts) prior to being deactivated.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Lands on IL with shoulder injury
Rotowire
Milwaukee placed Lauer on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement.
If there's good news here, it's that the injury is to Lauer's non-throwing shoulder. Still, it's unclear at this point how long he might be sidelined, and the Brewers' rotation depth had already been hit hard by injuries. Lauer had been slated to start Thursday against the Giants, but Milwaukee will have to find someone else to take the ball that day.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Struggles in return to rotation
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Lauer (4-5) took the loss Saturday, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks over three innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out two.
Lauer had troubles with the long ball Saturday, giving up homers to Harold Ramirez in the first, Yandy Diaz in the second and Christian Bethancourt in the fourth to tie his season high in runs allowed. Saturday's outing also marked Lauer's third straight appearance giving up multiple home runs while being the first time all season he struck out less than four batters. Though Lauer struggled with one of the top offenses in baseball, he should have a much easier time in his next projected start when he takes on the Giants, who strike out 9.6 times per game.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Re-enters rotation
Rotowire
Lauer will start Saturday's game against the Rays in Tampa Bay, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
After working 5.1 innings in relief in his most recent appearance against Kansas City on May 14, Lauer will take back his spot in the rotation from Colin Rea, who was optioned to Triple-A Nashville after starting that day's game. With Rea having since been recalled after Wade Miley (lat/rib) was placed on the 15-day injured list, however, the Brewers look as though they'll have room for both Lauer and Rea in the rotation moving forward. Lauer enters Saturday's contest sporting a 4.54 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB across 39.2 innings for the season.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Will pitch out of bullpen
Rotowire
Lauer will pitch out of the bullpen for now and is available for Saturday's game against the Royals, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
Lauer has struggled over his last three starts, with the left-hander not getting out of the fifth inning and allowing at least four runs in each of those outings. It appears Colin Rea will take Lauer's place in the rotation, with Rea now scheduled to start Saturday against Kansas City. Lauer could return to the rotation at some point, but for now he won't provide much fantasy relevance in a multi-inning relief role.
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Brewers' Eric Lauer: Roughed up in third straight loss
Rotowire
Lauer (3-4) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings against the Dodgers. He struck out four.
Lauer gave up a solo shot on the second pitch of the game to Mookie Betts. After his first time through the order, the Brewers trailed 3-0. Lauer picked wins in three of his first four starts, but he has not gotten through five innings in his last three outings. He's allowed 12 runs in his last three starts, though just seven of them are earned. Lauer's ERA sits at 4.72 with 33 strikeouts in 34.1 innings after seven starts.
