Trevor Bauer made 17 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers this past season before being placed on administrative leave amid allegations of sexual assault. He remained on the restricted list through the conclusion of the World Series and unsurprisingly exercised his $32 million player option for 2022.
Had Bauer opted out, the Dodgers could’ve deferred $20 million from his 2021 salary without interest and pay it in $2 million installments every Dec. 1 from 2031-40.
The club instead paid Bauer a lump sum of $20 million on Nov. 30, as his contract stipulated. The right-hander previously received a $10 million signing bonus but did not earn any incentives due to his season being cut short.
It’s considered unlikely that Bauer will ever take the mound again for the Dodgers, but the team could still find itself responsible for paying the remainder of his record-setting three-year contract.
Should Bauer be in a position to do so, opting out after the 2022 season would require L.A. to pay a $15 million buyout. If he remains with the organization beyond that point, the 30-year-old would then be due to earn another $32 million in 2023.
Although Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman dissolved the temporary restraining order that had been filed against Bauer, he remains subject to potential criminal charges. The Pasadena Police Department turned their findings over to the L.A. district attorney’s office, who hasn’t decided whether or not to take action.
Meanwhile, MLB is yet to wrap up their investigation and reportedly have not spoken with Bauer.
Bauer investigation impacting Dodgers in free agency
Monday brought about a slew of free agent signings across the league, and for the Dodgers, it amounted to Max Scherzer and Corey Seager inking lucrative contracts elsewhere.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently admitted the uncertainty surrounding Bauer has affected the club to some degree. It’s presumed that likely played a role in the Dodgers being hesitant to potentially match contracts presented to Seager and Scherzer.
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