Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — Pitcher Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave was extended yet again, this time by six additional days through April 22, by Major League Baseball and the players’ association.
Bauer was placed on seven days’ paid leave last July 2 under the joint domestic violence and sexual assault policy of MLB and the union after a Southern California woman said he assaulted her without her consent during two sexual encounters earlier last year at Bauer’s home. In February of this year, LA county prosecutors declined to charge Bauer for allegedly beating and sexually abusing the San Diego woman he met through social media.
MLB and the union have since agreed to several extensions. Bauer did not pitch after June 29 of last season. He had a record of 8-2 and a 2.59 ERA in 17 appearances in his first season with the Dodgers and received his entire $28 million salary last year.
At a certain point, this is getting ridiculous. The league cannot keep indefinitely handing out these extensions of a week at a time. They need to bring this thing to a close, and if Bauer is to be suspended, so be it. If he is to be reinstated, so be it. But the league is not doing anybody any favors by dragging out their investigation to nearly a year after the incident in question.
I have definitely mixed feelings about Bauer being back on the team, but my feelings have nothing to do with MLB’s responsibility to act on these allegations in a timely manner. Otherwise, it’s unfair to Bauer, unfair to the Dodgers, and ultimately unfair to baseball itself.
