Bauer signs with Japan’s Yokohama DENA Baystars

Trevor Bauer has agreed to a contract with the Yokohama DENA Baystars of Japan’s Central League. The 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Jan. 12, three weeks after an arbitrator reduced his suspension imposed by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred from 324 to 194 games. The penalty followed an investigation into domestic violence, which the pitcher has denied. Bauer is owed about $22.5 million from the remainder of his $102 million, threeyear contract with the Dodgers. The suspension has cost him roughly $37.6 million in salary.

■ Tigers: Duque Hebbert signed a minor-league deal with Detroit after striking out Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez and Rafael Devers in the ninth inning of Nicaragua’s game against the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. After striking our Soto and Rodríguez to start the inning, Hebbert gave up a double to Manny Machado, who also had a home run in the game.

But Hebbert struck out Devers on a changeup immediately after.

■ WBC: José De León and three relievers combined to pitch a perfect game as Puerto Rico routed Israel

10-0 in a World Baseball Classic game called after eight innings because of the tournament’s 10-run mercy rule. De León tied a WBC record with 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Javier Báez doubled twice and Francisco Lindor tripled and singled for Puerto Rico.

■ Obit: Joe Pepitone, an All-star and Gold Glove first baseman on the 1960s New York Yankees who gained renown for his flamboyant personality, hairpieces and penchant for nightlife, has died at 82. Born in Brooklyn, Pepitone helped the Yankees to their second straight World Series title during his rookie season in 1962.

■ Orioles: A minor league pitcher who was in Baltimore’s organization has died after battling cancer. Luis Ortiz was

20. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Ortiz was signed by the Orioles as a free agent in 2019. The left-hander pitched at the rookie league level in 2021.