Blue Jays' Eric Lauer loses arbitration, awarded $4.4M

Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Eric Lauer lost his arbitration case against the team and will receive a salary of $4.4 million for the upcoming season. The 30-year-old (turning 31 in June) was a minor league signing in December 2024 but had a strong 2025 season after being called up, posting a 9-2 record with a 3.18 ERA over 104.2 innings, including 13 starts where the Jays won 11 games. His role for the 2026 season remains uncertain, with projections seeing him primarily as a reliever, though an opening in the rotation could arise.