What had already become inevitable became an official ruling on Friday, when Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association agreed to extend the administrative license of Trevor bauer for the remainder of the 2021 season, a league official told ESPN.
Bauer, who has been out of the Los Angeles Dodgers since MLB first launched a separate investigation on July 2, will remain on administrative leave for the remainder of September and through October. MLB is not expected to decide on a possible suspension until the offseason, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
As part of a statement, Bauer’s co-agents Jon Fetterolf and Rachel Luba wrote: “Today, Mr. Bauer agreed to extend his administrative leave during the playoffs in a good faith measure and in an effort to minimize any distractions. to the Dodgers organization and his teammates. He continues to cooperate with the MLB investigation and refutes the unsubstantiated allegations against him. “
Bauer has been charged with sexual assault by a San Diego woman who testified in a request for a temporary restraining order that he strangled her unconscious multiple times, sodomized her without consent and struck her all over the body over the course of two encounters. sex at her Pasadena, California home on April 22 and May 16, the latter of which left her with injuries requiring medical attention. The woman said the encounters were initially consensual, including a request to be rendered unconscious, as shown in messages between her and Bauer, but stated during lengthy testimony that Bauer took it too far.
But a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denied the woman’s request for a permanent restraining order on Aug. 19, ruling that Bauer did not pose an ongoing threat and that the woman’s injuries were not the result of anything. to which she verbally objected before or during the encounters. Eight days later, the Pasadena Police Department concluded an investigation that lasted more than three months and turned over the evidence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which will ultimately determine whether to prosecute Bauer.
Bauer’s license had previously been extended eight times, all in increments of between seven and 13 days. A longer extension was largely due to not enough time on the schedule for him to pitch again and the district attorney’s office was not expected to make a determination in the foreseeable future. No new information has emerged in the investigation, a source said. Given the uncertainties on the criminal side, Bauer did not testify during the four-day hearing last month and likely has not spoken to league officials. MLB would like to speak with Bauer about the incident before determining a possible suspension.
The Washington Post published a story on August 14 in which it claimed that another Ohio-based woman accused Bauer of beating and suffocating her during sex during the course of a three-year relationship and that she filed a petition for restraining order last summer, only to be withdrawn six weeks later. Bauer’s attorneys called the woman’s allegations “categorically false” and have also firmly denied the most recent assault allegations.
Bauer, 30, won the National League Cy Young Award as a member of the Cincinnati Reds in 2020 and signed an unprecedented three-year, $ 102 million deal with his hometown Dodgers in February. The deal includes two player options and pays him a salary close to $ 40 million in 2021, making him the highest paid player in the sport.
Bauer was 8-5 with a 2.59 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings over 17 starts before being placed on administrative leave. His absence prompted the Dodgers to trade for a three-time Cy Young Award winner. Max scherzer, who came via change from the Washington Nationals along with shortstop turned second baseman Trea turner. Scherzer, who has a 1.32 ERA in seven starts since joining the Dodgers, leads a Los Angeles rotation that also includes Walker Buehler, Julio Urías, Tony gonsolin and Clayton kershawThe latter is expected to return from the disabled list on Monday.
Bauer will continue to receive his agreed-upon salary while on administrative leave and can earn up to $ 47 million in 2022 (a salary of $ 32 million plus a $ 15 million exit clause for 2023), although a possible suspension would affect what the Dodgers ultimately owe him.
.