The Blue Jays have been one of the busiest teams this winter, adding six new players to address their pitching depth and lineup needs.
Toronto’s biggest move was signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal, giving them a proven ace to anchor the rotation. They also added starter Cody Ponce on a three-year contract and bolstered their bullpen by acquiring Chase Lee from Detroit and signing Tyler Rogers to a three-year deal.
The offense got help too with the signing of Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year deal.
Rotation Crowding Creates Trade Opportunity
All that pitching depth has created a numbers game. With Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Ponce, and Jose Berrios all in the mix, Eric Lauer finds himself as the odd man out.
Lauer’s got experience working out of the bullpen, but the Blue Jays might be better served trading him while his value remains solid. That’s where the Angels come in.
Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly sees a natural fit between Toronto and Los Angeles:
“A team like the Angels, for example, could add Lauer. Let’s face it, they are going to need more than their five projected starters this season. Grayson Rodriguez is returning after missing the entire 2025 season, and Alek Manoah has pitched just 111.2 innings in thje majors since he was an All-Star in 2022.”
The Angels’ rotation is built on question marks. Grayson Rodriguez is coming back from missing an entire season, while Alek Manoah has barely pitched over the last few years after his breakout 2022 campaign.
Lauer gives them a reliable arm who can start or work in relief – exactly the kind of versatility teams need when dealing with injury concerns.
Prospect Return Makes Sense
For Toronto, this isn’t just about clearing roster space. The Angels have the farm system depth to make a deal worthwhile.
George Klassen stands out as a potential target. The right-handed pitching prospect has shown impressive strikeout ability and fits the profile of what Toronto typically targets in trades.
Klassen’s got the upside to eventually work his way into the Blue Jays’ rotation plans down the road, making him more valuable than simply dumping Lauer’s salary.
It’s the kind of deal that makes sense for both sides – the Angels get immediate help for a rotation that needs it, while Toronto adds a prospect with real potential and clears space for their new additions.
