Los Angeles Dodgers players Eric Lauer and Alex Call found themselves at the center of trade deadline speculation in the days leading up to Monday's deadline. However, both pitchers expressed their appreciation Tuesday for how the club's front office handled their situations, ultimately remaining with the team as depth pieces in the Dodgers' pursuit of a third consecutive World Series.
Lauer, who arrived via trade from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this season, stated that he spoke with team executives about his status and conveyed his desire to stay with the Dodgers. He noted the rarity of such open communication from a front office. "How comfortable and easy everything has been here," Lauer said. "I don’t think that going to another organization would be the same."
Despite surpassing expectations with a 5-0 record and a 2.96 ERA in nine outings for the Dodgers, Lauer understood his roster spot might be temporary, serving as a fill-in for an injured starting rotation. "They had been pretty open with me communication-wise about what they were thinking, what I was thinking," Lauer said. "I expressed to them that I wanted to be a Dodger. So I think they took that to heart."
Alex Call echoed Lauer's sentiments, reporting conversations with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman amid persistent trade rumors. Friedman, according to Call, expressed respect and value for his approach to the game and preparation, though without offering definitive assurances either way. "Anytime you hear that type of stuff, you’re just grateful for the organization. It kinda validates what you’re doing," Call said.
Both players acknowledged that had they been traded, they likely would have moved to teams offering more prominent roles. Call has seen limited starts since late June, and Lauer is expected to transition to a long relief role once Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow return from injury. Nevertheless, their preference was to remain with the Dodgers.
"There’s an argument to be made for playing somewhere else, and maybe playing more," Call said. "But the way I look at it is, I am tremendously blessed to be here, to be in the major leagues, and to be on the best team ever. The grass isn’t always greener."
Call added that his focus is on making an impact on a championship season, regardless of the size of his role. "My part is probably not going to be as large as Shohei Ohtani’s," he said with a laugh. "But nonetheless, there’s still opportunities for me to have an impact on a championship season. And that’s where my mindset is focused on every day."
Following the 5 p.m. Central time trade deadline on Monday, both players were informed by the coaching staff that they would not be traded. "We talked through every possible scenario," Lauer said. "And my comfortability level with it, their comfortability level with it, it all just kind of lined up."