Left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer has chosen to utilize an opt-out clause in his minor league contract with the Pirates, leading to his release, as reported by Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This move restores Lauer’s status as a free agent.
Approaching his 29th birthday next month, Lauer showcased strong performances during his time with the Indianapolis team, although his earned run average (ERA) saw a notable increase from 3.95 to 5.52 following a challenging outing where he conceded six runs across just two innings in his final appearance. Lauer initially joined the Pirates on a minor league deal on March 7 after being non-tendered by the Brewers earlier in the offseason.
Despite showing promising signs of a breakout with the Brewers in 2021, where he introduced a slider into his pitching repertoire, Eric Lauer’s 2023 season turned out to be a disappointment. Between 2021 and 2022, Lauer demonstrated consistency with a 3.47 ERA across 277 1/3 innings, displaying solid strikeout and walk rates, particularly after incorporating the new breaking ball. However, his performance took a sharp downturn last year, as the southpaw struggled with a dismal 6.46 ERA over 46 2/3 innings. The Brewers attempted to address his struggles by demoting him to Triple-A Nashville, but even there, he struggled with a 5.15 ERA.
Eric Lauer faced both shoulder and elbow injuries from 2022 to 2023, raising the possibility that he wasn’t pitching at his optimal level during the challenging 2023 season. Notably, there was a significant decrease in his fastball velocity, with his average speed dropping from 93.3 mph in 2022 to just 91.2 mph before he was sent down to the minors. These injuries likely contributed to his struggles on the mound last year.
Despite the setback of his final outing in Indianapolis, Eric Lauer showcased promising signs during his brief tenure with the Pirates organization in 2024. He boasted an impressive strikeout rate of 29.1% and maintained a solid walk rate of 8.7%. Even if he doesn’t fully regain his 2021-2022 form, Lauer holds a respectable 4.30 earned run average across nearly 600 innings in the majors. Excluding his tough 2023 season, his ERA drops to 4.11. Additionally, with only 4.111 years of big league service time, if a team signs him and promotes him to the majors, they can retain control over him through the 2025 season via arbitration. Furthermore, if his MLB promotion occurs with 60 or fewer days left in the season, control could extend through 2026.