The Los Angeles Dodgers announced they designated right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer for assignment as they reached the deadline to make their decision on whether to add him to their 40-man roster or not.
Last April, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred suspended Bauer 324 games for violating the league’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy following their investigation into the right-hander, who was accused of sexual assault by three women.
Bauer appealed the suspension, which led to an independent arbitrator reducing the suspension to 194 games and reinstating him from the restricted list effective immediately. Although the suspension was reduced, the arbitrator affirmed Bauer violated MLB’s sexual assault policy and docked his pay for the first 50 games of the 2023 season.
Following the Dodgers’ announcement of their intent to move on from Bauer, his agent Rachel Luba and attorneys Jon Fetterolf and Shawn Holley released a statement claiming the Dodgers told the 2020 National League Cy Young award winner they wanted him to pitch for them this season, and that he received support from players in the clubhouse.
“While we were unable to communicate throughout the administrative leave and arbitration process, my representatives spoke to Dodgers leadership immediately following the arbitration decision,” Bauer’s representatives said in their statement.
“Following two weeks of conversations around my return to the organization, I sat down with Dodgers leadership in Arizona yesterday who told me that they wanted me to return and pitch for the team this year.
“While I am disappointed by the organization’s decision today, I appreciate the wealth of support I’ve received from the Dodgers clubhouse. I wish the players all the best and look forward to competing elsewhere.”
After Bauer was placed on administrative leave, it was reported a majority of the Dodgers clubhouse was against the possibility of him ever returning to the team. More recently, it was reiterated that players didn’t want Bauer to return with the Dodgers.
That was followed by a report indicating some players informed the front office of their desire to have the 31-year-old return to the team. However, no Dodgers player ever publicly commented on the matter.
It is likely that the decision to release Bauer was ultimately an ownership decision, and it is possible that some members of the front office would have preferred to have him back and expressed that to him. But it is also possible that Bauer is trying to create more controversy, which is something he has tried to do often throughout his career.
The Dodgers originally signed Bauer to a three-year, $102 million contract in February 2021 but he made just 17 starts before being placed on paid administrative leave. The last game he pitched professionally came on June 28, 2021, and he finishes his brief career with the Dodgers posting a 2.59 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
Dodgers statement on Trevor Bauer
The Dodgers also released a statement regarding their decision to move on from Bauer.
“The Dodgers organization believes that allegations of sexual assault or domestic violence should be thoroughly investigated, with due process given to the accused,” the Dodgers said in a statement.
“From the beginning, we have fully cooperated with Major League Baseball’s investigation and strictly followed the process stipulated under MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Two extensive reviews of all the available evidence in this case – one by Commissioner Manfred and another by a neutral arbitrator – concluded that Mr. Bauer’s actions warranted the longest ever active player suspension in our sport for violations of this policy.
“Now that this process has been completed, and after careful consideration, we have decided that he will no longer be part of our organization.”
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