Trevor Bauer made just 17 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers before being placed on paid administrative leave amid sexual assault allegations.
Bauer remained on leave throughout the remainder of the 2021 season and into the following year. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred then suspended him for 324 games, which temporarily ruled out Bauer from pitching again for the Dodgers.
However, he appealed the suspension and after a lengthy process, had it reduced to 194 games while also being immediately reinstated by arbitrator Martin F. Scheinman.
That put the Dodgers on a timeline of needing to decide Bauer’s future with the team by January 6, 2023. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the expectation remains the Dodgers will release Bauer in part to some within the clubhouse not wanting him back:
The Dodgers are expected to release Trevor Bauer after his ban was reduced by 130 games and he became eligible for the 2023 season. Word is folks in their clubhouse would prefer he’d be elsewhere.
Since the arbitrator’s ruling, there now have been two reports indicating the Dodgers plan to release Bauer by the upcoming deadline.
“We have just been informed of the arbitrator’s ruling and will comment as soon as practical,” the Dodgers said in a statement after Scheinman’s decision was announced.
They routinely declined comment as Bauer was on leave and after his appeal process began.
Only weeks into Bauer being placed on leave, it was reported a majority of the Dodgers clubhouse had soured on the possibility of the 31-year-old ever returning to the team. None of his teammates publicly commented on the matter.
Money Dodgers owe Trevor Bauer
The Dodgers signed Bauer to a three-year, $102 million contract in February 2021.
Even with Bauer’s salary for the first 50 games of the 2023 regular season docked, the Dodgers must pay an estimated $22 million to the right-hander next year. That would be owed whether or not Bauer remains with the team.
Although the expectation is the Dodgers will release Bauer, they could first add him back to their 40-man roster by Jan. 6 and pursue a trade. However, doing so would require opening a spot on the 40-man roster.
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