The Los Angeles Dodgers have been embroiled in controversy for the past week as Trevor Bauer is under investigation for alleged sexual assault. A 27-year-old woman from San Diego obtained a temporary restraining order and hopes to see the right-hander arrested.
Revelations surfaced Tuesday but Bauer still travelled with the team for the start of their road trip. The Dodgers initially intended to have him start the series finale against the Washington Nationals, which manager Dave Roberts said was direction provided by Major League Baseball.
However, that never took place as Bauer was put on seven-day administrative leave due to the ongoing investigations; one being carried out by the Pasadena Police Department and the other handled through MLB.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, MLB is hopeful to speak with Bauer and his accuser as part of their investigation:
Investigators intend to speak with the woman who obtained a restraining order against Bauer last week. To date, MLB investigators have communicated with her lawyer, but hope to speak to her directly, sources said.
Investigators are delving into Bauer’s history and the question of whether there have been other incidents, sources said, a line of inquiry that MLB has followed in cases subject to the sport’s domestic violence policy. At some point, MLB officials would like to speak to Bauer directly, but it is unclear if that will happen any time soon.
It’s widely believed MLB will not conclude their investigation by the time Bauer’s administrative leave expires, and thus the league will request an extension. That process will need to be through approval from the Players Association.
Bauer had 24 hours to appeal the initial administrative leave, but passed on doing so.
For now the Dodgers are planning on going with a bullpen game again on Friday, and hope to have more clarity coming out of the All-Star break.
What’s next for Bauer?
Whenever the investigation concludes, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred will have the authority to suspend a player under the joint domestic violence policy even if charges are not filed. Bauer is scheduled for a court hearing on July 23.
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