Blue Jays facing tough rotation decision once Trey Yesavage returns

That decision has started to come into focus. MLB.com reported Thursday that once Yesavage is ready, the roster crunch is coming, and Lauer is one of the clearest names in it.

Lauer's case got weaker because the results have slipped fast. Through 22 2/3 innings, he owns a 6.75 ERA, and he has allowed at least 1 home run in 4 of his 5 appearances.

The shape of the season tells the same story. After striking out 9 in 5 1/3 innings against the Athletics on March 29, Lauer has not found that same rhythm again.

There is also the stuff question. MLB.com noted that Lauer's four-seam velocity is down from 91.7 mph in 2025 to 90.3 mph this season, while his walk rate has climbed from 6.1% to 12.7%.

That matters because Toronto originally built him for this kind of swing role anyway. Back in spring, MLB.com described Lauer as the No. 6 starter who could slide into the rotation if needed, or work as the likely long man out of the bullpen if the staff got healthy.

Now that health is inching back. Yesavage is nearing the end of his rehab from a right shoulder impingement, and John Schneider said after Tuesday's outing that physically the rookie looked pretty good.

This is where the real pressure starts. Patrick Corbin has a 3.68 ERA in 14 2/3 innings, and MLB.com wrote that his last 2 outings may have solidified his spot ahead of Lauer once Yesavage is back.

If that holds, Lauer becomes the obvious next man out of the rotation. The cleaner choice is a move back to long relief, where he already gave Toronto value in 2025 while posting a 3.18 ERA across 104 2/3 innings.

That route makes baseball sense. The bullpen has been taxed, and Lauer's ability to cover multiple innings would still give Schneider something useful even if the starting job disappears.

But there is another side to it. Lauer made clear in spring that he wanted to live as a starter, not bounce in and out of roles, and that tension already showed when he publicly pushed back on an opener setup earlier this month.

So Toronto may need to decide whether a bullpen reset is realistic or whether this is the point where cutting ties becomes the cleaner move. That sounds harsh in April, but teams stop waiting when rotation spots tighten and healthier arms return.

Lauer still has value because he is left-handed, stretched out, and experienced. Still, once Trey Yesavage is ready, the Blue Jays may decide Eric Lauer fits best in relief, or no longer fits at all.