How Eric Lauer, Alex Call survived Dodgers trade deadline rumors: Very rare

CHICAGO –– In the days leading up to Monday’s deadline, the Dodgers’ front office was believed to be discussing potential trades for Eric Lauer and Alex Call.Behind the scenes, however, conversations were had with the two players themselves, as well.Both Call and Lauer, who wound up not getting dealt and will now finish the season in Los Angeles as depth pieces in the club’s pursuit of a third-straight World Series, said Tuesday that they talked with executives about their status and expressed their desire to remain with the team.Each also emphasized how much they appreciated the way their situations were handled, and how they were grateful to still be with the organization after weeks of trade rumors had left their futures in doubt.“How comfortable and easy everything has been here,” Lauer said, “I don’t think that going to another organization would be the same.”Lauer had been bracing for trade possibilities ever since the Dodgers initially acquired him from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this season. Though the veteran left-hander has surpassed expectations in his brief tenure with the club, going 5-0 with a 2.96 ERA in nine outings (all of which have been Dodgers wins, to boot), he also knew he was serving as a temporary fill-in for their banged-up starting rotation, leaving his roster spot tenuous for the stretch run of the season.By the time Monday arrived, though, Lauer had an inkling that he might not end up getting dealt.While he did feel “anticipation building” as the deadline approached, he said his recent discussions with the team had also put his mind at ease.“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.”“I think it’s very rare,” he added of the front office’s openness with him.“I’ve never been given this option.

I’ve never been told this much about ...