Eric Lauer and Craig Counsell are being linked again after John Schneider's Blue Jays cut the left-hander loose this week.
The Cubs angle is getting attention because Chicago looks thin enough on the mound to at least examine any low-cost arm who can cover innings.
That is the key point here. This is not a confirmed signing or a reported formal pursuit.
It is a fit story, driven by Cubbies Crib's argument that Lauer makes sense for Counsell and by the Cubs' clear need for more pitching depth.
Lauer was designated for assignment by Toronto 3 days ago after posting a 6.69 ERA over a little more than 36 innings this season. The Blue Jays also used the move to open a roster spot for Yariel Rodriguez.
That rough line explains why Toronto moved on. It also explains why any team looking at him now would be making a depth bet, not chasing a sure thing.
Chicago still has reasons to look. MLB.com's Cubs injuries page lists Matthew Boyd on the injured list after knee surgery, while Justin Steele remains out with a left elbow issue.
The Cubs fit starts with Counsell and innings
This is where the reunion angle comes in. Lauer pitched under Counsell in Milwaukee from 2020 through 2023, so the Cubs manager already knows what the left-hander looks like when he is useful.
Cubbies Crib also pointed to Ben Brown moving into the rotation and Javier Assad standing as one of the Cubs' few established bulk options. In that setup, Lauer's swingman background starts to matter.
There is even a decent rebound case if Chicago sees him as a shorter-burst arm instead of a starter. The same report noted his velocity is down, which could make a relief role a cleaner lane for him.
Toronto's side of the story still matters, too. The Blue Jays need pitching themselves, so the fact they gave up on Lauer tells you the risk is real and not just cosmetic.
But the Cubs are not in a spot to be overly picky. Their pitching depth has already taken hits, and low-cost innings can carry real value in May.
So the smart read is not that Chicago is all-in on Eric Lauer. It is that he looks like the kind of discarded arm the Cubs should at least study closely.
And because of Counsell, the workload need, and the low acquisition cost, Eric Lauer does feel like a pretty natural Cubs conversation right now.
Should the Cubs take a chance on Eric Lauer after the Blue Jays DFA?
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