After eight instances of Trevor Bauer having his administrative leave extended by one week at a time, it was agreed to by Major League Baseball and the Players Association that the right-hander would not pitch again for the Los Angeles Dodgers this year.
Although such an agreement had long been anticipated, it officially offered some clarity as the Dodgers can continue to move forward knowing Bauer will not be part of the roster. Though, manager Dave Roberts suggested the team hadn’t been impacted anyhow.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s changed anything from how we’ve gone about it,” Roberts said. “That’s more on the legal side, so for us focusing on the baseball side, it really hasn’t affected the guys in the clubhouse.”
The Dodgers signed Bauer this past February to a record-setting three-year, $102 million contract. He went 8-5 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 17 starts, last pitching for the Dodgers on June 28.
That was the night before a San Diego woman obtained an ex parte restraining order due to allegations of sexual assault. The Pasadena Police Department launched their criminal investigation July 1, and MLB placed Bauer on paid administrative leave the following day.
L.A. Superior Court judge Dianna Gould-Saltman dismissed the order by determining Bauer no longer posed a threat to the woman and that her injuries were not the result of anything she verbally objected to.
Will Bauer ever pitch for Dodgers?
With Bauer out at least through the 2021 World Series, MLB presumably won’t arrive at their own conclusion until the offseason. It was previously reported a suspension commissioner Rob Manfred could levy would be at least one year and potentially up to two.
“I have no idea,” answered Roberts when asked if Bauer would ever pitch for the Dodgers again. “I’m just kind of focusing on the guys that are in the room and winning tonight.
“I just haven’t given any thought to that.”
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