Dodgers show Bauer door after he didn’t show remorse
PHOENIX – The Los Angeles Dodgers planned to cut ties with Trevor Bauer all along.
Still, they thought they owed him the courtesy of speaking to him directly.
Dodger executives flew to Phoenix last week to meet privately with Bauer to decide if he deserved another chance, multiple high-ranking officials told USA TODAY Sports
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the conversation.
The Dodgers owe Bauer $22.5 million this season anyway, so they decided it was worth finding out whether he deserved any consideration of remaining in the organization.
Dodger officials declined to go into details of their conversation, but privately revealed that they didn’t hear any remorse, apologies or anything in the slightest from Bauer to change their mind.
They reconvened in Los Angeles and designated Bauer for assignment. He will be placed on unconditional release waivers Jan. 12 and become an official free agent Jan. 13.
“The Dodgers organization believes that allegations of sexual assault or domestic violence should be thoroughly investigated, with due process given to the accused,” the Dodgers said in a statement. “From the beginning, we have fully cooperated with Major League Baseball’s investigation and strictly followed the process stipulated under MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Two extensive reviews of all the available evidence in this case – one by Commissioner (Rob) Manfred and another by a neutral arbitrator – concluded that Mr. Bauer’s actions warranted the longest ever active player suspension in our sport for violations of this policy. Now that this process has been completed, and after careful consideration, we have decided that he will no longer be part of our organization.”
Bauer was placed on administrative leave in July 2021 by Major League Baseball after a San Diego woman filed a restraining order against him that was eventually denied, the Dodgers knew then he would never pitch for them again.
The Dodgers’ best hope was to trade Bauer. They spent time determining whether any team would be interested after he was reinstated by an independent arbitrator on Dec. 22 that reduced his original 324game suspension to 194 games.
Yet, even with the team willing to pay nearly all of his remaining $22.5 million salary, the silence was deafening.