MLB Rumors: Brewers Former Key Rotation Piece Trending Towards Free Agency

Left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer, who previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers, has recently cleared waivers without any other team claiming him.

Consequently, he has been outrighted to the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.

Lauer, now 28 years old, had established himself as a reliable part of the Brewers' pitching staff in both 2021 and 2022, posting a commendable 3.47 earned run average over 277.1 innings during that period.

The Brewers waived Eric Lauer to see if any other club would pick him up with one more arbitration year remaining. He cleared and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville.

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) October 20, 2023

However, his performance took a sharp downturn in 2023, with a concerning 5.48 ERA in his first nine appearances, leading to an injury and subsequent demotion to the minors.

Unfortunately, his struggles continued in the minor leagues, and he concluded the season with a challenging 6.56 ERA.

With more than three years of service time under his belt, Lauer holds the option to reject this outright assignment and become a free agent.

This decision would allow him to explore opportunities with other MLB teams in the hope of revitalizing his career.

The Brewers say Eric Lauer has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Class AAA Nashville.

— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) October 20, 2023

Despite his challenging 2023 season, Lauer can point to his strong prior performances in 2021 and 2022 as he seeks his next contract in the open market.

Teams may still see potential in him and be willing to offer him another chance to regain his previous form on the mound. Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports