Since mid-summer 2021, Trevor Bauer has been on the sidelines. The pitcher, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women, was first placed on administrative leave for many months before finally being suspended until April 2024.
Bauer, who has always maintained that the sexual relations in question were consensual, then asked that an independent arbitrator reassess the case.
Result? His suspension has been reduced, which means he can return to the game well before April in 2024.
In fact, he can come back right now.
The Dodgers pitcher saw his 324-game suspension increase to 194 games. It is still the longest suspension in history for such a gesture.
But since he had also spent time on administrative leave, he received a hybrid for the start of the season: he can return now, but he will not be paid for the first 50 games of the 2023 season.
This means that the Dodgers will have to pay him around $22 million in 2023, his last year of contract for LA. This will bring the Dodgers to the gates of the luxury tax, which is probably not the objective in 2023 for the club.
The club have two weeks to either add him to their 40-man roster or release him (by paying him, since contracts are guaranteed)… and I expect him to be cut.
From there, he could sign a minimum-wage contract with another team and the Dodgers would insure the rest of his contract. But will any club take a chance?
The problem is not at the baseball level since in 2020 he won the Cy Youg, that he was good in 2021 and that he kept in shape during that time. But signing him is a risk I wouldn’t take.
The Dodgers simply said the case would be assessed. The pitcher, he said he was ready to win a World Series.
Remember that in the end, he had signed with LA on the short term and that he lost $37.5 million.
I really have the feeling that it will be difficult for him to find work. I’m not saying impossible, but is it worth the risk for all the negative comments that will come? Already there is a funny number that takes up space in a locker room…
To be continued, therefore.
