Lauer elected free agency Monday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Brewers understandably didn't want to give Lauer a raise via arbitration after he posted a 6.56 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 46.2 innings this season. He's just 28 years old and posted a 3.84 ERA and 286:109 K:BB over 288.1 innings for Milwaukee from 2020-22, so the left-hander shouldn't have trouble finding another opportunity elsewhere.

Lauer cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Nashville, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lauer struggled to get things going with the Brewers in 2023, accumulating a 6.56 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 46.2 innings in 10 appearances. He reserves the right to elect free agency, but other teams will likely have to see signs of improvement before giving Lauer another shot in a big-league rotation.

Lauer was optioned to the Arizona Complez League on Sunday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lauer was promoted Saturday for his first appearance in the big leagues since May, but he was tagged for three homers and eight earned runs by the Cubs. The left-hander began the season in the starting rotation but is a potential DFA candidate this offseason after he posted a 6.56 ERA over 46.2 innings for the Brewers this year.

Lauer (4-6) took the loss Saturday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and four walks over four innings against the Cubs. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Chicago handed Lauer a rude welcome in his first big-league appearance since being demoted to Triple-A in June as the Cubs tallied six runs in the opening frame on three home runs. The 28-year-old southpaw surrendered two more scores in the fourth and will close the chapter on a disappointing 2023 campaign with a 4-6 record, 6.56 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 43:24 K:BB, while serving up 16 home runs in just 46.2 innings this season.

The Brewers recalled Lauer from Triple-A Nashville to start Saturday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Lauer will be making his first start in the majors since May 20, when he gave up six earned runs over three innings against the Rays. The 28-year-old southpaw put up a 5.48 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with the Brewers before being sent down to Nashville, where he recorded similar numbers. Though his numbers may not warrant a promotion, Lauer's arrival will help the Brewers keep Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta fresh for the postseason. Clayton Andrews and Caleb Boushley were both optioned to the Arizona Complex League in corresponding moves.

The Brewers will recall Lauer from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday to start their penultimate game of the regular season versus the Cubs at American Family Field, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

After opening the season as the Brewers' No. 3 starter, Lauer posted a 5.48 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB over 42.2 innings across his first nine appearances (eight starts) with the big club before landing on the 15-day injured list May 22 with an impingement in his non-throwing shoulder and then getting optioned to the minors once activated June 13. Following his reinstatement from the IL, Lauer spent several weeks at the Brewers' complex in Arizona before returning to minor-league action in late July. He eventually moved on to Triple-A Nashville and turned in his best start of the season in his most recent outing Sept. 22, striking out 10 while allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings. Lauer will now get the chance to make his first start with the Brewers since May, and though he doesn't look to be a realistic option for the team's postseason pitching staff, a positive showing Saturday could help him land a big-league deal elsewhere this winter. The 28-year-old southpaw is set for a raise in arbitration from the $5.08 million salary he earned in 2023, and the Brewers are likely to non-tender him and allow him to explore his options in free agency.

Lauer struck out two batters and gave up no hits and one walk in a one-inning start Friday for the Brewers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate.

EDGE Analysis

The one-inning outing was Lauer's first at any level since June 11, when he made his last start at Triple-A Nashville before being placed on the temporary inactive list due to an undisclosed health issue. Lauer may have used the time off to workshop his mechanics, after he had struggled to keep the ball in the yard over his nine outings with Milwaukee (13 home runs in 42.2 innings) prior to landing on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement. Lauer continued to struggle in his two rehab starts with Nashville before he was activated from the IL and optioned to the minors. The veteran southpaw may make a few more appearances in Arizona before eventually reporting back to Nashville.

Lauer was placed on the inactive list for Triple-A Nashville as he works through an undisclosed health issue, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He pitched for Nashville on June 6 and June 11 and has not pitched since due to the undisclosed issue. Granted, in those two appearances, Lauer gave up seven earned runs on 12 hits and four walks over 4.2 innings, so he may have been dealing with something at the time. He should be considered out indefinitely.

Milwaukee reinstated Lauer (shoulder) off the 10-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "We want to get him right, to be healthy and be a contributor," Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said.

EDGE Analysis

Lauer was placed on the 15-day injured list May 22 with an impingement in his non-throwing shoulder, and the southpaw struggled in his rehab start Sunday with Nashville; allowing seven runs (five earned) in two innings. Lauer was an effective part of the Milwaukee rotation in 2022, but he'll remain in the PCL until the Brewers deem him worthy of a roster spot again this summer.

Lauer (shoulder) was charged with seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out one batter in a two-inning rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Nashville.

EDGE Analysis

Lauer needed 69 pitches just to record his six outs and has now been battered for 11 runs (seven earned) on 12 hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in his first two rehab starts with Nashville. Though Lauer hasn't suffered from any reported setbacks while out on the farm, the poor results he's shown thus far could lead the Brewers to move him to the bullpen whenever he's deemed ready to return from the 15-day injured list.