Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
The Dodgers’ decision to part ways with Trevor Bauer was met with positivity from MLB media who praised the organization for doing the right thing.
The Dodgers had until Friday to decide what to do with Trevor Bauer, the pitcher who was initially suspended by MLB for 324 games for violating the league’s domestic violence policy but served 194 games before his suspension was reduced.
They waited until seemingly the last possible moment to announce a decision, but it finally came: Bauer has no place in the Dodgers organization any longer.
LA designated Bauer for assignment while releasing a statement making it clear he will not be back in Dodger Blue. The DFA means the team has a week to trade him before he would become a free agent.
MLB media was largely supportive of the move by the Dodgers, though there was room for criticism for the timing of it as well as the fact that they gave the controversial player a contract in the first place.
MLB media reacts to Dodgers dumping Trevor Bauer
Bauer faced public accusations of abuse from three different women. He was investigated by authorities in Southern California for an alleged 2021 assault but the district attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges due to lack of evidence.
MLB placed the pitcher on administrative leave while the league did its own investigation into the multiple allegations against Bauer. The league found that he had violated its domestic violence policy and suspended him more than 300 games. That suspension was reduced on appeal in late 2022 and Bauer was reinstated.
The cost of not bringing Bauer back was high for the Dodgers, who will have to fork out his $22.5 million salary for the final year of his contract.
The next question is whether another team will trade for or sign him, and what kind of backlash they will receive for doing so.