Former Padres Pitcher Opts Out of Deal with the Pirates

Eric Lauer: Released by Pittsburgh

Lauer, 28, had been pitching for Triple-A Indianapolis, where he posted a 2-2 record, 5.52 ERA, and 1.432 WHIP. However, his ERA is a bit deceptive, skewed by a recent outing where he surrendered six runs in two innings.

Lauer debuted with the San Diego Padres in 2018. After two rather pedestrian seasons where he was 14-17 with a 4.40 ERA, he was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers. He came into his own, as the saying goes, in 2021. Across 2021-22, he was 18-12 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.186 WHIP. Unfortunately, things fell apart in 2023. Lauer had lost some velocity and pitched to a 4-6 record and 6.56 ERA. His peripheral stats indicate he garnered those ugly stats on merit. His FIP was a gaudy 7.41. Opposing hitters slashed .292/.370/.616 against him with an average exit velocity of 91.7 mph and a hard-hit percentage of 45.1. When he didn’t fare much better in the minors, the Brewers decided to non-tender him.

The Pirates signed Lauer to the minor league deal on March 22 while in pursuit of bigger fish for their starting rotation. It was a worthwhile gamble at the time. General manager Ben Cherington operates under the belief that a team can never have enough pitching. Left-handed pitchers have an advantage in PNC Park due to its cavernous left field. If Lauer could somehow regain his 2021-22 form, he would be a nice insurance policy against injuries or struggling young starters.

The Writing on the Wall

However, starting pitching is the least of the Pirates’ worries in 2024, even with Marco Gonzales on the injured list. Lauer probably saw the writing on the wall and decided it was time to pursue other opportunities. Cherington likely saw the writing on the wall, too, with his recent trade for Daulton Jefferies giving him a veteran who can step in for Lauer in triple-A. Meanwhile, having opted out of his Pirates contract, Lauer is almost certain to draw some interest, but he’s probably looking at another minor league deal.