Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer’s two-year suspension from Major League Baseball was reduced to 194 games, an arbitration panel ruled on Thursday.
Bauer, 31, who was suspended for 324 games (two seasons) in April, was serving the longest penalty ever issued for violation of MLB’s policy on sexual assault and domestic violence, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Bauer has served 144 games of his suspension, but arbitrator Martin Scheinman ruled that the right-hander is eligible to be reinstated immediately, according to ESPN. He will be docked his pay from the Dodgers from the first 50 games of the 2023 season to make up the difference, the sports news outlet reported
The panel had been considering Bauer’s appeal since May, according to ESPN.
“After an exhaustive review of the available evidence the neutral arbitrator upheld an unpaid suspension of 194 games,” Major League Baseball said in a statement. “As part of the decision, the arbitrator reinstated Mr. Bauer effectively immediately, with a loss of pay covering the 144 games he was suspended during the 2022 season. In addition, the arbitrator docked Bauer’s salary for the first 50 games of the 2023 season (i.e., the period covering March 30, 2023, to May 23, 2023). While we believe a longer suspension was warranted, MLB will abide by the neutral arbitrator’s decision, which upholds baseball’s longest-ever active player suspension for sexual assault or domestic violence.”
Official Statement from Major League Baseball regarding Trevor Bauer decision. #Dodgers #MLB pic.twitter.com/crwguV1uWa
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) December 23, 2022
On Feb. 11, 2021, the Dodgers signed Bauer, the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, to a three-year, $102 million contract through the 2023 season, the Times reported.
Of the 16 players suspended since the sexual assault and domestic violence policy took effect in 2015, Bauer has been the only player to appeal, according to the newspaper.
The Athletic reported in June 2021 that a San Diego woman had received a temporary restraining order against Bauer, claiming that he had sexually assaulted her twice. She alleged that he had choked and punched her and committed sexual acts to which she did not consent.
Bauer’s attorney denied the woman’s allegations, but the pitcher was put on administrative leave starting on July 2, 2021.
On Feb. 8, 2022, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said Bauer would not face criminal charges stemming from the allegation. Under a policy negotiated between MLB and its players’ union, Commissioner Rob Manfred is authorized to suspend a player even if he has not been charged with a crime, the Times reported.
Bauer has sued six parties for defamation, including the San Diego woman, according to the newspaper. She has countersued.
Dodgers’ statement on today’s ruling: “We have just been informed of the arbitrator’s ruling and will comment as soon as practical.”
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 23, 2022
The Dodgers have two weeks to decide whether they will reinstate Bauer onto their 40-man roster, ESPN reported. He is under contract with the team for one more season on a deal that originally was for $32 million in 2023.
“We have just been informed of the arbitrator’s ruling and will comment as soon as practical,” the Dodgers said in a statement.
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