Trevor Bauer Eligible To Pitch This Spring After Arbitrator Reduces Suspension
An independent arbitrator has substantially reduced Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Trevor Bauer’s 324-game suspension to 194 games, according to multiple reports and MLB Insider Jon Heyman. The ruling will provide credit for time served and reinstate Bauer immediately, making him eligible to pitch this Spring at the start of the 2023 season. It is unclear if the Dodgers will keep him on board. If the team cuts him, it will have to pay the remaining salary he is owed, less the games that he will not be paid for under the terms of the suspension.
Bauer has not pitched in a game since June of 2021. He was placed on administrative leave after being accused of sexual assault during two sexual encounters that Bauer claimed were consensual. Bauer’s accuser alleged that he choked her, sodomized her and punched her in her genitals. She filed a police report, obtained a temporary restraining order and sought treatment at a hospital. A judge declined to grant the accuser a permanent restraining order and police declined to bring criminal charges against Bauer, after an investigation.
Despite not facing criminal charges, MLB determined that Bauer violated its domestic violence and sexual assault policy and suspended Bauer in April for two seasons, after a nine-month long investigation. The suspension, even after it is reduced, will still be the longest suspension in league history for violations of MLB’s domestic violence and sex assault policy.
The players’ association filed a grievance and independent arbitrator Martin Scheinman heard the case. As a result of the decision, Bauer will reportedly not be paid for the final 144 games of last season and the first 50 games of next season.
“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,” MLB said in a statement. “We understand this process was difficult for the witnesses involved and we thank them for their participation.”
Bauer’s original suspension of 324 games would have cost him over $60 million in losses from a $102 million, three-year contract that started last year.
Bauer was originally placed on administrative leave in July of 2021 and it was extended 13 times as MLB waited for the criminal investigation and its own investigation to conclude.
Bauer initially claimed that his accuser had asked for rough sex and the two had agreed to the conduct that allegedly occurred during their sexual encounters. The woman alleged that Bauer took it over the line by allegedly choking her until she was unconscious and leaving her bruised. Bauer denied the allegations and claimed that the woman doctored photos. The two are presently involved in a lawsuit. Bauer sued her and her attorneys for defamation and she sued him civilly for sexual battery.
Bauer is also suing several media outlets alleging defamation in their coverage of the allegations.
Bauer won his first Cy Young with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020. He did not pitch after June 29th of 2021 and finished with an 8-2 record. He earned $28 million dollars last year.
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