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Blue Jays: A Spring Training battle appears to be brewing between Eric Lauer and Cody Ponce
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Graeme Wallace
Dec 17, 2025, 15:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 17, 2025, 11:42 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays have invested heavily in their pitching staff, signing Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and Tyler Rogers, and trading for Charles Lee this offseason.
How does the team plan to use Ponce and Eric Lauer, considering they already have five starting pitchers on their current roster – Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, and José Berríos?
It is widely expected that the Jays will explore a trade involving Berríos this winter.
But with his tailspin at the end of last season, his remaining three years, combined with his departure from the Blue Jays during the World Series and GM Ross Atkins’ recent comments, is his trade value at an all-time low? The Jays may be better off holding on to Berríos, hoping he gets off to a decent start, and then trading him should they still wish to pursue that route. Berríos recently told MLB Network that he was battling elbow and bicep issues last year, and that he should be good to go come Spring Training. 
Should Berríos depart this winter, who is next in line?
Is it 2025 KBO MVP Ponce, who has re-invented himself as a high-strikeout flamethrower overseas? Or is it Lauer, who emerged last season from a depth signing to be one of the most important pitchers on the roster last year?
Ponce is the favourite to be the next man up based on what the Jays have invested in him already, a three-year, $30 million contract that would be a bargain for a traditional starter but is a good deal for a guy who still needs to prove he can be dominant in the majors. The contract gives the Jays the flexibility to use Ponce in a variety of ways, although his being a starter maximizes his value.
Lauer earned himself a pay raise with his stellar 2025 season. He’ll earn a projected $5.3 million through his last year of arbitration – a far cry from what Ponce will earn over the next three years. He’ll likely start the season as the number six or seven option, depending on whether Berrios is traded or injuries occur, which they always do.
That’s the great thing about Lauer. He’ll accept whatever role without complaint and do it well. Across 15 starts, the steady lefty went 6-2, with a 3.77 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched. As a reliever, Lauer made 13 appearances and went 3-0, with a 1.76 ERA, 0.750 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings pitched. Lauer did whatever was asked of him and will be prepared to do so again this season.
If a trade is worked out for Berríos, Ponce will be given every opportunity to round out the rotation. If not, having Lauer and Ponce in the bullpen would see a competition brewing for the long man role, with the other pitcher likely working as a middle relief option. Maybe the Jays capitalize on Lauer’s increased value from last season and move him instead this winter, but it seems more likely that Berríos will be departing, given what seems to be a deteriorating relationship. 
If nothing else, the Blue Jays’ pitching depth is much stronger with Lauer, Ponce, plus Bowden Francis, Ricky Tiedemann, Lazaro Estrada, and Adam Macko waiting in the wings.

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