Pitcher Bauer, shunned by MLB, is introduced by Japanese team

The Trevor Bauer era in Japan began Friday at an introductory news conference, where he pulled a blue-and-white Yokohama DENA Baystars jersey over a white shirt and red tie.

The 2020 Cy Young Award winner is in Japan on a one-year deal that could let him prove himself and return to Major League Baseball, where he was unable to find work this season even after an arbitrator reduced his unprecedented 324-game suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy.

He was cut in January by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who still owe him $22.5 million this season.

No Japanese reporter asked him about his suspension in the United States. The only question about it came from The Associated Press. Bauer disputed that the question suggested he was suspended from the major leagues.

“I don’t believe that’s accurate,” he said. “But I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to pitch again. I’ve always wanted to play in Japan.”

Bauer was released by the Dodgers three weeks after an arbitrator reduced his suspension imposed by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred from 324 to 194 games.

The penalty followed an investigation into domestic violence allegations, which the pitcher has denied.

Manfred suspended Bauer last April for violating the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy, after a San Diego woman said he beat and sexually abused her in 2021.

Bauer has maintained he did nothing wrong, saying everything that what happened between him and the woman was consensual.

He was never charged with a crime.