Eric Lauer hasn’t allowed over 3 ER in ANY OUTING this season 🤯 His 2025 ERA: 2.59 🔥
Blue Jays: Dylan Cease signing doesn’t change Eric Lauer’s value
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
By Ben Wrixon
Nov 29, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 29, 2025, 06:57 EST
Eric Lauer was one of the Toronto Blue Jays’ most surprising contributors in the 2025 season, succeeding as both a starting pitcher and a reliever. The team will need his versatility again next year, especially after signing Dylan Cease to a massive contract.
Lauer joined the Blue Jays on an incentive-laden minor-league deal after spending part of the 2024 season in Korea with the Kia Tigers. He exceeded all expectations for that contract, posting a 3.18 ERA (134 ERA+) and 1.108 WHIP across 28 appearances.
The lefty stepped into the rotation early in the year when the Blue Jays desperately needed quality innings, then moved to the bullpen following the return of Max Scherzer and the acquisition of Shane Bieber. He remained in that role through the playoffs, where he threw four-and-two-thirds scoreless frames against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 18-inning marathon that was game three of the World Series.
Looking ahead to 2026, Lauer is likely to fill a similar role out of the bullpen — but the Blue Jays could consider giving him more high-leverage opportunities.
He proved throughout 2025 that he possesses the pitches, savviness, and composure necessary to get bigs out in pressure-packed situations. Brendon Little and Mason Fluharty shouldn’t be ahead of him in the pecking order by default just because they get more strikeouts.
Every team needs an arm capable of throwing three or four innings on short notice in case a starting pitcher is pulled early. The Blue Jays’ bullpen lacks a true long reliever beyond Lauer as currently constructed, but that doesn’t mean he should be relegated to mop-up duty.
Ultimately, though, having Lauer around as the potential next man up in the rotation if necessary will be a huge blessing for the Blue Jays next year.
There’s no such thing as a guarantee in MLB.
Cease has a propensity for short outings, Trey Yesavage will need his workload managed in his first full season, Shane Bieber hasn’t had a healthy year since 2022, and José Berríos is in decline. The importance of having Lauer as an insurance policy cannot be overstated if any of those four need time off.
No matter how he’s deployed, Eric Lauer will pitch valuable innings in 2026.
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