Nearly eight months after Trevor Bauer appealed MLB’s record suspension, arbitrator Martin F. Scheinman reduced it from 324 games to 194 and immediately reinstated him from the restricted list.
Bauer is now eligible to be put back on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster despite missing 144 games while on suspension. To account for the remaining difference from Scheinman’s ruling, Bauer’s pay will be docked for the first 50 games of the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers have until January 6, 2023, to decide on whether or not to add the enigmatic starter to their 40-man roster.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the Dodgers will release Bauer:
The #Dodgers plan to release Trevor Bauer but have not announced a decision.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 23, 2022
The Dodgers have largely remained mum on Bauer’s status and future with the club throughout the process and maintained that stance in the wake of Scheinman’s decision.
“We have just been informed of the arbitrator’s ruling and will comment as soon as practical,” they said in a statement.
The Dodgers signed Bauer to a three-year, $102 million contract in February 2021 that included an opt-out clause after the first two seasons.
Bauer faced sexual assault allegations brought forth by a woman from San Diego during his first season with the Dodgers and was promptly placed on paid administrative leave. That was extended on several instances during the 2021 season and into the following year until MLB commissioner Rob Manfred levied a record suspension this past April.
Although the L.A. District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute Bauer, he was subject to punishment at Manfred’s discretion under MLB’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
MLB statement on Trevor Bauer ruling
Scheinman is an independent arbitrator who is retained by MLB and the Players Association.
“Today, the neutral arbitrator selected by MLB and the MLBPA affirmed that Trevor Bauer violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy,” the league said in a statement.
“After an exhaustive review of the available evidence the neutral arbitrator upheld an unpaid suspension of 194 games. As part of the decision, the arbitrator reinstated Mr. Bauer effectively immediately, with a loss of pay covering the 144 games he was suspended during the 2022 season.
“In addition, the arbitrator docked Bauer’s salary for the first 50 games of the 2023 season (i.e., the period covering March 30, 2023 to May 23, 2023). While we believe a longer suspension was warranted, MLB will abide by the neutral arbitrator’s decision, which upholds baseball’s longest-ever active player suspension for sexual assault or domestic violence.
“We understand this process was difficult for the witnesses involved and we thank them for their participation. Due to the collectively bargained confidentiality provisions of the joint program, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”
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