The Dodgers do this kind of thing in their sleep. Los Angeles acquired left-hander Eric Lauer from the Blue Jays on Wednesday for cash considerations or a player to be named later. It is the kind of small move that wins them five extra games over the course of a season, which is the difference between the division and a wild card.
The deal came together hours after the Dodgers placed reliever Jack Dreyer on the injured list. Dreyer has been a key piece of the bullpen this year, and his absence opened a spot Los Angeles needed to fill immediately. Lauer provides flexibility as both a long reliever and a spot starter.
To clear roster space for Lauer, the Dodgers moved Brusdar Graterol to the 60-day IL. Graterol has been dealing with shoulder issues all spring and was already shut down indefinitely. The move makes his return basically impossible before late August, but it was the only way to make the trade work.
Lauer is a useful pickup at almost no cost. He has bounced between starting and relieving for the last few years, putting up a 4.30 ERA across multiple stops. The 30-year-old left-hander does not blow anyone away with his stuff, but he throws strikes, eats innings, and has the kind of veteran presence that helps a major-league bullpen.
The Blue Jays were the surprise on the other side. Toronto is 22-26 and just lost Jose Berrios for the season. Moving a usable left-handed arm in May tells you everything about how the front office sees this season. They are not closing the door on contention, but they are quietly stocking pieces for a longer rebuild.
This move continues a pattern for the Dodgers that has been impossible to stop. They identify undervalued depth pieces, ship cash or a low-level prospect to acquire them, and turn those players into difference-makers. Lauer is the latest entry in a list that already includes Tyler Glasnow, Tommy Edman, and dozens of others who arrived in Los Angeles and immediately got better.
The Dodgers are 32-15 and lapping the NL West for the third year in a row. Shohei Ohtani is hitting .306 with 17 homers. Mookie Betts is back in the leadoff spot. Freddie Freeman is having another All-Star caliber year. The lineup is the deepest in baseball, and the rotation has held up despite injuries to multiple arms.
The bullpen has been the only question, and that is the question Lauer helps answer. Yohan Ramirez has been wild. Anthony Banda has been mediocre. Alex Vesia is the closer and is doing his job, but the seventh and eighth innings have been a problem. Lauer can be the multi-inning lefty who covers gaps when the starter does not go six.
Dreyer’s IL trip is the more concerning news for Los Angeles. He has been one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball this year, with an ERA under 2.00 and elite strikeout numbers. The Dodgers have not announced the specific injury, but he is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks.
For the Blue Jays, this trade is the start of what looks like a long summer. Berrios is out. Vlad Jr. is angry about his contract. Bo Bichette is in a walk year. The front office is going to have to make harder decisions over the next two months as the trade deadline approaches. Moving Lauer in May is a sign they are getting ready.
For the Dodgers, it is Wednesday. Another day, another move, another piece for the next World Series run. The rest of the league should be exhausted by now. Los Angeles just keeps reloading.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
