The Los Angeles Dodgers touted due diligence when introducing Trevor Bauer after signing him to a three-year contract, only to be embroiled in controversy five months later as he faced sexual assault allegations.
Bauer made 17 starts in his first season with the Dodgers before being placed on administrative leave by MLB on July 2. That wound up being extended several times and kept the right-hander off the field for the remainder of the 2021 season.
Per terms of his three-year, $102 million contract, Bauer received a $20 million lump sum in November. He additionally exercised a player option to remain under contract with the Dodgers for the 2022 season.
But as players are reporting to Camelback Ranch this weekend for the start of Spring Training, Bauer will not be among them as he again has been put on administrative leave, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez:
League source: With the lockout lifted, Trevor Bauer's administrative leave has been extended another seven days, from March 13 to 19, with MLB still not ruling on a potential suspension. Bauer is not allowed to report to spring training during that time.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) March 11, 2022
The Pasadena Police Department turned over their findings to the L.A. County District Attorney’s office last August, who announced last month that Bauer would not face criminal charges.
“MLB’s investigation is ongoing and we will comment further at the appropriate time,” the league said in a statement at the time.
Similarly, the Dodgers declined to address the matter. “MLB is continuing their investigation,” they said in a statement. “We will have no further comment until it concludes.”
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred can still impose a suspension despite Bauer being cleared on a criminal level. However, it’s possible the right-hander would be credited with games missed last season and be available for the entirety of the 2022 campaign.
Will Trevor Bauer pitch again for the Dodgers?
The Dodgers have continued to decline comment throughout the time Bauer has been on leave, and manager Dave Roberts said prior to Friday’s report he wasn’t certain of what the immediate future held.
“I don’t want to completely close the door on him potentially being in Spring Training, because I just don’t know enough,” Roberts said.
“I certainly heard and saw his thoughts about a month ago, so he’s been staying in shape. I don’t know where he is as far as a reserve list, or how it works. I just don’t know that. So I don’t want to close the door completely.”
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