Geelong gave away its middle-of-round-one compensation pick (for losing Gary Ablett to the Gold Coast as one of their eight uncontracted signings) for a chance to have an early draft selection in this year's draft.
By obtaining the pick, the Cats will now have two picks in round one of this year's draft and six in the top 60.
"From a club point of view being able to obtain a player at pick 15 in this year's draft and put time and resources in him will be beneficial to where we see our list at as opposed to waiting until the pick becomes usable," Geelong football manager Neil Balme said.
Geelong now has picks 15, 23, 36, 53, 57 and 58 to use in this year's national draft.
Laidler spent three years at Skilled Stadium but played just two games for the Cats.
Geelong selected the 21-year-old with pick 32 in the 2008 rookie draft, and although he won the Calder Cannons best-and-fairest as a forward, has been seen predominantly as an attacking half-back by Geelong in the VFL.
"We are obviously disappointed to lose Jeremy as we considered him to be a required player," Balme said.
"Jeremy considered the Carlton offer of a longer contract and more opportunities to be right for him."
"Rather than the possibility of losing Jeremy for nothing if he chose to enter the draft we have managed to improve our position and obtain another pick in the national draft."
Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells told afl.com.au's Trade Week Radio on Monday morning Carlton's interest was no surprise to the Cats.
"Obviously Carlton have approached him at some stage and convinced him there would be better opportunities up there at Princes Park," he said.
"It's fair to say Carlton have been interested in Jeremy for a couple of years. They brought his name up at last year's trade period as well.
"This year they brought his name up at the start of the week and through his management they've convinced him that he should go.
"He's received a good contract offer from Carlton and we do respect that. It's not a total surprise."
Laidler debuted against the Brisbane Lions in 2009, the game where Geelong famously rested a large number of players.
He played just once in 2010, the round 20 clash with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
Follow our complete coverage of the 2010 AFL exchange period from October 5-11. No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm on Monday, October 11.
Join the AFL trade conversation on Twitter: use #tradeweek in your tweets.
