DUNEDIN, Fla. — Eric Lauer’s spring is about more than just securing a spot in the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation. It’s about demonstrating the value of a player willing to prioritize team needs, even if it means a financial hit. The left-hander, entering a contract year, is being stretched out as a starter again, but faces a crowded field, and a recent arbitration decision that underscored the challenges of quantifying a player’s overall contribution.
Lauer’s first Grapefruit League appearance of , a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, offered a glimpse of the energy he brings to the mound. He allowed just one hit and recorded a strikeout in a clean inning of work, but it was his visible excitement – “restless leg syndrome,” as he called it – that spoke volumes. “I was kind of laughing when I came off,” Lauer said. “My legs just kept shaking — I was just too excited. You finally get back to what we do all year, finally get out there, you can compete and you just get a little overexcited and you’ve got to get your legs back under you.”
That nervous energy, he explained, isn’t unique to spring training. “A similar phenomenon strikes… randomly throughout the year, too,” Lauer said, adding, “having that anxiety means it still matters to you.” It’s a sentiment that underscores his approach to the game, and his current situation.
Last season, Lauer proved his versatility, stabilizing the Blue Jays’ rotation with 15 starts before transitioning to a bullpen role in the final month. While he excelled in both capacities, that willingness to adapt may have inadvertently impacted his earning potential. He recently lost his arbitration case against the Blue Jays, receiving a $4.4 million award instead of his requested $5.75 million. Lauer believes his shift to the bullpen factored into the decision. “The fact that I ended the year in the bullpen is probably what lost me my case,” he admitted.
The arbitration outcome highlights a broader issue within the system – the difficulty of adequately valuing a player’s selflessness. Lauer’s willingness to prioritize the team’s needs, while admirable, wasn’t fully reflected in the financial outcome. “This proves a little frustrating,” Lauer acknowledged. “I mean, I was told last year some things, like, for certain would happen this year, and then we made some moves.”
Despite the frustration, Lauer remains focused on what he can control: his performance. He understands that a strong spring showing is crucial, not only for securing a rotation spot but also for maximizing his value in free agency at the end of the season. “Being able to lock in mentally and physically as a starter is what’s best for me,” he said. “It’s what I normally do, it’s how I normally prepare, I know where I’m supposed to be at certain times. The whole bouncing back and forth in last year kind of hurt me in the long run, not physically, but in my standing, I guess.”
Blue Jays manager John Schneider recognizes Lauer’s desire to start and the value of having a flexible pitcher. “We’ve told him he knows that we want to stretch him out like a traditional starter and to have that option is great, knowing that he can be a little bit flexible,” Schneider said. “We know that’s really, really beneficial and any club would say that. But we want to get him up to a normal starter workload. If we can get up to like 75 pitches by the end of camp, that’s what we’re shooting for, and if we have to adjust, we adjust.”
The Blue Jays’ rotation is indeed crowded, even with Shane Bieber’s buildup delayed. Lauer’s path to a starting role won’t be easy, but he’s determined to make a compelling case. “I’d really like to perform and do what I did last year, show that I can start and hopefully maintain starting,” he stated.
Beyond Lauer’s pursuit of a rotation spot, the Blue Jays’ spring training opener also provided a first look at new acquisition Kazuma Okamoto. The $60 million signing is adjusting to North American baseball, leaning on veterans Vladimir Guerrero Jr. And George Springer for guidance. Okamoto went 0-for-2 with a notable defensive play at third base, showcasing the athleticism that made him a star in Japan. “He’s got a good clock, he’s really got good hands, athletic play,” Schneider observed. “Like what I saw.”
Veteran reliever Tyler Rogers also made his spring debut, throwing a tidy inning with four ground balls. Schneider joked, “I was joking with him after he came out, I said, ‘About 75 of those this year,’ and he said, ‘No, probably more.'” Rogers’ durability and unique submarine delivery are expected to be valuable assets for the Blue Jays’ bullpen.
Left-handed pitcher Adam Macko, returning from knee surgery, also impressed in his first spring appearance, touching 97.4 mph with his fastball. Macko, who will pitch for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, is carefully managing his workload to ensure he’s ready for both spring training and the international tournament.
As Lauer and his teammates navigate the challenges of spring training, the overarching theme remains clear: a commitment to team success. For Lauer, that means proving he can be a reliable starter, even if it requires overcoming a recent financial setback and a crowded competition. “It’s kind of back and forth,” Lauer said, reflecting on last season’s near-miss in the World Series. “You like that we finished in a good spot, but it still really hurts not getting that last one. There’s a little extra drive to not let that happen again, but at the same time, you’ve got to be proud of what we did last year.”
