Guardians could make unpopular trade with Dodgers to acquire much-needed pitching help

Last June, Eric Lauer authored another chapter in the Blue Jays’ 2025 season with 5 1/3 strong innings against the Guardians at Progressive Field. 

While Lauer’s start would have hurt regardless given the Guardians could have added him as a free agent in the offseason, it came with even more sting given the Elyria native did it against his hometown team. 

But the Guardians seem to have a golden opportunity to make up for that at this year’s deadline, as The Athletic’s Katie Woo reported earlier today that the Dodgers (Lauer’s new club) are dangling him in trade talks. 

Although Lauer struggled at the beginning of the season with the Blue Jays, he’s been better since he joined the Dodgers at the end of May and would serve a valuable role for the Guardians as a swingman. 

Bo Naylor could be the perfect piece to help the Guardians trade for Eric Lauer

According to Woo, the Dodgers are shopping Lauer and old friend Alex Call in the hopes they can bulk up their infield, catching and starting pitching depth.

Enter Bo Naylor, who is clearly on the outs in Cleveland but still has enough pedigree that a 1-for-1 trade of him for Lauer still seems fair to both sides. 

Lauer would help fill the Guardians’ pitching depth, while Naylor would provide Los Angeles with some insurance behind the plate while Will Smith (neck inflammation) is out. 

Dalton Rushing has stepped up into an everyday role behind the plate for Los Angeles, but they’ve had to cycle through career minor leaguers Chuckie Robinson and Eliezer Alfonzo behind him. 

Even if the 26-year-old Naylor isn’t a “prospect” in the way a 22-year-old is, he still has two minor league options remaining, so the Dodgers could put him on their roster now to backup Rushing and then easily send him down to Triple-A once Smith comes back. 

Naylor boasts more potential than either of the backup options the Dodgers have used behind Rushing, and would immediately become an intriguing option in their system. A bit too intriguing, even. 

Along with having an ownership group that’s not afraid to spend money, the Dodgers also have a sharp front office that capitalizes on acquiring players when their value is at their lowest. 

It helped them turn Max Muncy into an All-Star, and part of the reason why they’ve been able to turn Lauer into a legit trade target.

And it’s clear he’s a trade target the Guardians should go after to help add to their pitching depth, whether it be as a starter or relief weapon. 

Although he bristled at the notion of working as a bulk guy with the Blue Jays, he came out of the bullpen in one of his appearances with the Dodgers and fired off six scoreless innings.

In total, he’s recorded a 3.35 ERA in 45 2/3 innings with Los Angeles this season. 

But even if Lauer’s potential role with the Guardians isn’t clear right now, the one thing that is clear is that the Guardians need pitching depth. It was true before Shawn Armstrong got hurt, and it’s even more true now that he’s out for the season. 

Lauer’s a solid budget option to add to that depth. Even if the thought of trading Naylor to the Dodgers is scary, it’s a gamble the Guardians’ front office should consider taking. 

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