Bauer won’t pitch again this season
LOS ANGELES — With decisions on possible criminal charges and a potential suspension still pending, 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.
Bauer has not pitched for the Dodgers since June 28, the day before a woman accused him of sexual assault and obtained a temporary restraining order against him. Bauer was placed on leave July 2, and the leave now has been extended nine times.
The short-term extensions — usually, a week at a time — had provided a path for Bauer to seek reinstatement if he were not charged. However, with three weeks left in the regular season, Bauer’s legal status unresolved and the league continuing its investigation into the allegations, there was no realistic way for Bauer to return in time to pitch effectively this season.
“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,” Bauer’s agents Jon Fetterolf and Rachel Luba said in a statement Friday. “He continues to cooperate with the MLB investigation and refute the baseless allegations against him.”
Bauer is in the first year of a three-year, $102 million contract. 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.
Giants beat Cubs, extend win streak
Kris Bryant drew a pair of standing ovations in his return to Wrigley Field, then Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt homered in the seventh inning to send the San Francisco Giants over the Chicago Cubs 6-1 Friday for their fifth straight win.
The Giants, who entered 2 ½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, improved to a majorleague best 91-50.
It was 1-all when Longoria hit a two-run homer that put San Francisco ahead. Belt connected for a tworun drive later in the inning.
Rookie Frank Schwindel hit a solo drive for the Cubs, giving him 12 homers and seven in the last 11 games.
Bryant was traded to the Giants for two prospects at the July 30 deadline as the rebuilding Cubs unloaded marquee stars who were set to become free agents after this season.