Former Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer took a shot at his former team after the MLB Trade Deadline.
Lauer is now pitching with the Los Angeles Dodgers and is having success after being DFA’d by Toronto this season. The left-hander was frustrated with his role with the Blue Jays this season and also didn’t pitch well.
With the Dodgers, Lauer has pitched much better, but his name came up in trade rumors at the deadline. Yet, Los Angeles didn’t deal him, and after the deadline, Lauer praised his organization while also taking a subtle shot at Toronto.
“They had been pretty open with me communication-wise about what they were thinking, what I was thinking,” Lauer said to The New York Post. “I expressed to them that I wanted to be a Dodger. So, I think they took that to heart. I think it’s very rare. I’ve never been given this option. I’ve never been told this much about what was going on. So, it’s just another testament to the communication here. It’s top of the line, really.”
Lauer thought the way the Dodgers talk to players is different than any other organization he has been on. It’s also a subtle shot at Toronto, as the Blue Jays did move on from him this season, so he has experience with how much info front offices give him.
Lauer is 5-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 10 games, including 9 starts with the Dodgers since being acquired in a trade from Toronto.
Lauer Was Frustrated With Blue Jays Role
Last season, Lauer was a savior for the Blue Jays rotation, but as everyone got healthy and they acquired Shane Bieber, he was moved to the bullpen.
Entering spring training, Lauer made it clear that he wanted to be a starter and was to begin the year. Yet, he struggled, and Toronto used an opener before him, which he wasn’t happy about.
“It’s definitely different,” Lauer said. “To be really blunt, I hate it. I can’t stand it. You work with what you got. Part of it, too, we’re trying to mix some things up. We’re trying to find ways to win. It’s a game plan we had, and I think we went out there and tried to execute it the best we could. That’s really all you can do. You can make it work the best you can. It’s just, hopefully it’s not something that we will continue doing. But you know, that’s above my pay grade.”
Lauer claimed an opener messed with his pre-game routine
John Schneider Fired Back at Lauer
After Lauer’s comments, Blue Jays manager John Schneider wasn’t happy with the pitcher venting his frustration to the media.
“I respect everyone’s opinion,” said Schneider. “I know the end of his quote was, ‘It’s above my pay grade,’ and it definitely is above his pay grade as to how we use him. We’re trying to win, you know what I mean? My job is to put him in spots to try to have success. That’s what I try to do. He’s aware of that. He gets that. Anyone who’s been bounced around a little bit, he wants to start, I get it. But he’s on board with us just trying to win and, go out and execute until we take the ball from you, big fella, and do it again the next time.
“It’s just reminding guys like, ‘Hey, if you don’t like your role, like, come talk to me, come talk to Pete.’ That goes for everybody. You don’t like when I take you out as a starter, all right, come talk to me, don’t tell you guys, come tell me. That was it, basically. It was quick. The message was again like, ‘Hey, you pitch, I decide.’”
Lauer went 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA in 8 games with the Blue Jays.
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