The Blue Jays Just DFA'd a Pitcher the A's Can't Afford to Ignore
We've been saying for months that the Athletics need another left-hander in their bullpen mix, and the Toronto Blue Jays may have just gift-wrapped one.
www.yardbarker.comHere’s the latest on Eric Lauer and the Blue Jays DFA move.
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The Toronto Blue Jays designated left-hander Eric Lauer for assignment on May 10, 2026, moving Yariel Rodríguez onto the MLB roster in his place. This was framed as a results-based decision after Lauer struggled to a 6.69 ERA across 36.1 innings on the season.[3][4][7]
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Reports indicate the move was not what the team wanted, but they felt compelled to act given recent performances, opening the door for potential waivers or a trade if another club claims him.[4][3]
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Context from multiple outlets suggests Lauer had been a rotation/long-relief option for Toronto, but his 2026 numbers and a high-gopher outing forced the DFA. Toronto management signaled the goal of upgrading the rotation, with Lauer’s role being reassigned as the team sought pitching help.[8][3]
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After the DFA, several outlets noted that the Blue Jays are exploring options to bolster pitching, including potential trades or claiming alternative arms, while Lauer’s next destination remained uncertain pending waivers.[5][8]
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For background, Lauer had been with the Blue Jays since 2025, contributing in both the regular season and postseason prior to this season’s downturn.[1][3]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent waivers status and potential suitors as of today, or summarize what Schneider and the front office publicly said about the DFA.