One of the biggest question marks surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays is what the front office and coaching staff will do with southpaw swingman Eric Lauer. Lauer, who lost his arbitration hearing last month, is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.
With the recent news that Cincinnati Reds‘ starter Hunter Greene is set to miss extended time with an elbow injury, the Reds might be looking for a starter to fill the void. A recent trade pitch by Fansided.com’s Zachary Rotman sees the Reds and Blue Jays link up on a deal that would send southpaw Eric Lauer to the Queen City for reliever Graham Ashcraft.
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Should the Blue Jays Trade Eric Lauer?
GettyWhat does the future hold for Eric Lauer and the Blue Jays?
As of now, Eric Lauer stands out as a possible trade candidate for the Blue Jays due to the team’s stacked pitching staff, and Lauer not really having a spot in the rotation. Despite having the best ERA on the team in August and September last year, Toronto poured nearly $250 million into its rotation this offseason.
Rotman explains why this could be a good deal for Toronto:
“The other reason why Toronto would make this deal has to do with the value they’d be receiving. By trading Lauer, who is on an expiring contract, they’d be getting three years of Ashcraft, a reliever who had a sparkling 2.72 FIP in 62 appearances last season. He allowed a total of two home runs in 65.1 innings, and he throws incredibly hard.”
Ashcraft has a career 4.76 ERA over four MLB seasons. In 2025, he posted a flat 4 earned runs average mark over 66 appearances out of the bullpen and 65.1 total innings.
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Why Graham Ashcraft is a Good Fit.
The Blue Jays could use another high-leverage reliever for the backend of the bullpen, which Graham Ashcraft can fill, but he also be a versatile option for John Schneider at any point in the game, and also has starting experience from earlier in his career.
With the loss of Hunter Greene, the Reds might be looking to add another starter, and Lauer has been clear he wants to get the opportunity to start games. Who wouldn’t during a contract year? Starters get paid more in MLB, and Lauer has put in his time to deserve that chance.
This mock trade idea would almost be doing Lauer a favor for his financial future.
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