On Friday, Major League Baseball announced a two-year ban for Trevor Bauer for breaking the league's domestic abuse policy, a substantial penalty for an exceptional pitcher whose future in the game is now in doubt.
Bauer, unlike the previous 15 players disciplined under MLB's domestic violence policy, will fight his suspension to the finish. He has filed an appeal against MLB's ban and will be unable to pitch until an arbitrator upholds, lowers, or reverses the league's decision. All 15 players have accepted or negotiated penalties ranging in duration from 15 to 162 games since MLB and the MLB Players' Association agreed to a domestic violence policy in 2015.
Bauer has not thrown since June when a San Diego woman accused him of sexual assault, and he has been on MLB's administrative leave since July, during which time he has been paid. Any suspension imposed as a result of the domestic violence policy would be without pay.
Bauer's attorneys made a statement saying, "In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league's domestic violence and sexual assault rules." "This action is being appealed, and I anticipate winning. My representatives and I have maintained the secrecy of the proceedings throughout this period."
Bauer, 31, inked a three-year, $102 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021, only months after winning the National League Cy Young Award in the flu-shortened 2020 season. He won eight of his first 17 starts with the Dodgers, but was accused of sexual assault by a San Diego woman in June; Bauer argued that their contacts were "wholly consensual."
Players can be punished even if they haven't been charged with a crime under the joint domestic violence policy; just one suspended player, former Atlanta outfielder Hector Olivera, was sentenced to prison as a result of accusations.
Other players who were suspended were accused criminally but the accusations were withdrawn, frequently because their partners refused to cooperate with authorities. In Bauer's instance, MLB waited to punish him until after a long time in which Los Angeles County prosecutors decided not to prosecute him with a felony, according to a decision made public on Feb. 8.
Bauer's protection order was withdrawn by a Los Angeles court in August, following more than nine hours of evidence from Bauer's accuser. During the hearing, Bauer asserted his Fifth Amendment rights.
Bauer, the union, and MLB agreed to repeated extensions of his administrative leave while the legal repercussions played out, but with the 2022 season approaching and Bauer allegedly absconding legally, the pitcher was due a disciplinary decision from MLB.
According to the Washington Post, Bauer was also the subject of an order of protection filed by an Ohio lady in 2020, in addition to the California allegation. Bauer allegedly strangled her and punched her without her consent during sexual encounters in 2017 and 2018, according to the woman's complaint, and then sent her threatening messages on social media.
Bauer has thrown for the Diamondbacks, Indians, Reds, and Dodgers during his career, with Cincinnati being his most successful team. During the truncated 2020 season, he had a 1.73 ERA in 11 starts before signing a deal with the Dodgers in February 2021.
"We were notified today that MLB has completed its investigation into charges made against Trevor Bauer, and the Commissioner has given his judgment regarding discipline," the Dodgers stated in a statement on Friday. "All complaints of this sort are taken extremely seriously by the Dodgers organization, which does not condone or excuse any acts of domestic abuse or sexual assault."
"Since the inquiry began, we've completely cooperated with MLB, and we fully support MLB's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy, as well as the Commissioner's enforcement of the Policy. Trevor, we hear, has the right to challenge the Commissioner's decision. As a result, we will refrain from making any more comments until the process is completed."
Bauer's ban takes effect immediately and is not retroactive, unlike some others. If an independent arbitrator upholds the decision, he will be banned for the remainder of his Dodgers contract, which runs through the 2024 season.
Bauer would lose $60 million in compensation as a result of the ban, including the $32 million he is due in 2023 and the almost $28 million he owes for the rest of the season.
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