The Chicago Cubs are continuing their relentless search for pitching help, and the latest available arm could be one that fits perfectly into manager Craig Counsell’s comfort zone.
With injuries beginning to test Chicago’s pitching depth, the Cubs are exploring every possible option to stabilize their staff and recently discarded left-hander Eric Lauer may suddenly emerge as an intriguing low-risk target.
Lauer was designated for assignment earlier this week by the Toronto Blue Jays, potentially giving Chicago an opportunity to add experienced pitching help at virtually no cost.
The urgency surrounding the Cubs’ rotation and bullpen has intensified in recent weeks.
Setbacks involving Justin Steele and Hunter Harvey have forced the front office into aggressive depth hunting mode. Chicago has already begun making smaller moves, including bringing in former Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks, but the search for reliable innings is far from over.
At this stage of the season, the Cubs are unlikely to ignore any pitcher capable of helping bridge the gap until healthier reinforcements arrive.
That’s where Lauer enters the conversation.
On paper, Lauer’s 2026 numbers don’t immediately inspire confidence.
The 30-year-old posted a rough 6.69 ERA across just over 36 innings with Toronto while recording a reduced strikeout rate and noticeable decline in velocity. Those struggles played a major role in the Blue Jays’ decision to move on.
Still, there’s reason to believe Chicago could view him differently.
Counsell knows Lauer exceptionally well from their years together with the Milwaukee Brewers between 2020 and 2023. During that stretch, Lauer enjoyed some of the strongest performances of his career particularly in 2021, when he delivered a stellar 3.19 ERA while striking out nearly 24 percent of opposing hitters.
That familiarity could make the Cubs more comfortable betting on a rebound.
The Cubs don’t necessarily need perfection right now they need innings.
With Ben Brown shifting more permanently into the starting rotation and Matthew Boyd recovering from meniscus surgery, Chicago’s bullpen depth has become increasingly thin. Aside from Javier Assad, the club lacks many proven multi-inning options.
Lauer’s versatility could become valuable in that situation.
Throughout his career, he has operated as both a starter and long reliever, giving him the type of flexible “swingman” role teams often rely on during injury-heavy stretches of the season.
For president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, these kinds of under-the-radar moves may define the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
The Cubs understand pitchers like Hendriks and Lauer are not the blockbuster solutions fans dream about.
But until July trade talks fully develop, Chicago may have little choice but to keep taking calculated chances on available veterans with upside.
And in baseball, sometimes the smartest move is simply giving a familiar arm another opportunity.
For a Cubs team trying to survive injuries while staying competitive in the playoff race, Eric Lauer may represent exactly the kind of gamble worth taking.
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