Blue Jays sign veteran to minor league contract as crucial pitching depth

All throughout the current offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays have had obvious needs around their roster. It's simple: they need hitting and they need pitching. The organization has been "in on" basically every single one of the top free agents but to this point have come away empty-handed on that front outside of their two-year reunion with Yimi Garcia.

On Friday, the Blue Jays reportedly brought aboard an experienced starting pitcher to stash in their high-minors as depth. According to MLB Network's Mark Feinsand, the club has signed left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer to a minor league contract. The 29-year-old will receive an invitation to big league spring training.

Blue Jays sign Eric Lauer to minor league contract

Lauer first broke into the league as a member of the San Diego Padres, but two uninspiring years over there led to a four-year stint on the Milwaukee Brewers that saw him turn into a dependable starter for brief periods of time. However, the last action he's had in the big leagues came in the form of a ten-outing showing in 2023 when he posted a 6.56 ERA through 46.2 innings.

Since then, Lauer has spent time in the minor league systems of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros, but the numbers haven't gotten much better. He made a total of 16 starts (and three relief appearances) between the two organizations' Triple-A affiliates in 2024 but finished his time with a 5.26 ERA. To Lauer's credit, though, he saw an uptick in his strikeout rate as he struck out 10.3 batters, which is far higher than he's ever been at the big-league level.

To finish out this past season, the southpaw pitched in South Korea for the Kia Tigers. He made seven starts and struck out 37 batters while walking 12 in 34.2 innings of work.

Lauer is a soft-tossing hurler who has an expansive repertoire but no offerings that'll blow the opposition away. At this point in his career, he's likely nothing more than high-minors depth, but the Blue Jays just so happen to need more of that more than practically any other team in the league. He should start the year in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons, but injuries could force him onto the big league roster by the time the 2025 campaign is all said and done.