Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — It was always just a matter of time. Given the explosive nature of the accusations against him, we all knew that there was no way that Trevor Bauer would be returning during the 2021 campaign. After extension after extension of the pitcher’s administrative leave, MLB finally let the other shoe drop today. Major League Baseball and the players union agreed Friday to extend Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer’s paid leave from the team through the end of the season.
In a statement released to the media, Bauer’s agents Jon Fetterolf and Rachel Luba said the following:
“Today, Mr. Bauer agreed to extend his administrative leave through the playoffs in a measure of good faith and in an effort to minimize any distraction to the Dodgers organization and his teammates. He continues to cooperate with the MLB investigation and refute the baseless allegations against him.”
Bauer hasn’t pitched for the Dodgers since late June, and continues to maintain his innocence in the matter of the sexual assault accusations against him. There still has not been a determination on whether or not to charge Bauer with any crime regarding the incident that occurred at Bauer’s Pasadena residence in May.
The Dodgers have options about what to do about the Bauer contract, all of which they will be exploring between now and the end of the season. Whatever the outcome of the criminal investigation, I imagine that Bauer is likely facing some kind of MLB suspension in 2022.
According to a report published today in the Los Angeles Times, “Under MLB’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy, the right to discipline Bauer remains with the league until it concludes its investigation, or until commissioner Rob Manfred transfers disciplinary authority to the Dodgers. At that point, if the Dodgers wish to cut ties with Bauer, they can release him and pay off the balance of the contract, or they can try to void the deal and risk an almost certain grievance, in which they would argue that Bauer had violated personal conduct standards in the contract.”
So even if they wanted to discipline Bauer, the Dodgers won’t have an opportunity to do so until the league gives them the go-ahead. My guess is that Bauer will end up being cut from the Dodgers and be re-signed by another team for the proverbial “fresh start” once his suspension has been served.
The whole incident made most Dodger fans sick, and it’s probably one of the reasons why it’s been so hard to really enjoy the 2021 season. It’s hard to believe that someone you cheered for would do what he’s accused of. But there have been enough of these incidents in the last few years that we should know, there is a whole other person behind the public persona of every celebrity, not the least of which is Trevor Bauer.
