The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Eric Lauer from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations on Sunday. Brusdar Graterol was transferred to the 60-day injured list in order to make room for Lauer on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Graterol started the season on the 15-day IL due to his ongoing recovery from right shoulder surgery. He started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City in early May but it’s been halted after just four appearances.
That was in response to Graterol experiencing some back discomfort that in turn is resulting in further evaluation. Regardless of whether or not that surfaced, Graterol wasn’t necessarily on the verge of returning.
He now is not eligible to be activated until May 24.
Eric Lauer traded
Lauer joins the Dodgers six days after he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays. It marked an unceremonious ending to a relationship that had become strained in part because of the Blue Jay’s usage of the left-hander and also going through an arbitration hearing.
Lauer originally joined Toronto on a Minor League contract before the start of the 2025 season. He was added onto the Blue Jays roster in April of that year and wound up filling a key role for the team.
Although Lauer excelled as a swingman, he made clear of having a preference to start. Multiple injuries in the Blue Jays rotation this year created that opportunity, but Lauer went 1-3 with a 6.15 ERA in six starts. Pitching out of the bullpen wasn’t much better, as Lauer was 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in two appearances.
Overall in his eight games for Toronto this season, the 30-year-old went 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA, 6.92 FIP and 1.49 WHIP.
That’s in stark contrast to Lauer going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 28 games (15 starts) last season. He also made five appearances during the postseason last year, including throwing 5.2 scoreless innings over two games against the Dodgers in the World Series.
The Dodgers adding Lauer helps boost some of their starting rotation depth amid recent injuries with Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell. In Snell’s case, he’s expected to be out multiple months due to needing surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow.
Lauer lost his arbitration case and received a $4.4 million salary that had been submitted by the Blue Jays. Lauer filed at $5.75 million. He’s due to become a free agent after the 2026 season.
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