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The MLB has reinstated former Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer after serving a 194-game suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. The league initially ruled Bauer would be suspended for 324 games; that was until Thursday when Bauer’s legal team received the news of the lifting suspension.
Bauer himself was quick to tweet his feelings on the news. Letting fans know he is ready for his return.
The 2023 season Vlog is going to be 🔥🔥! Can’t wait to see y’all out at a stadium soon!
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) December 23, 2022
ESPN staff writer Alden Gonzalez broke down the news in a post on Thursday:
“Bauer has served 144 games of the suspension, but arbitrator Martin Scheinman essentially gave him credit for the time he served on MLB’s restricted list in the second half of the 2021 season. Bauer will be docked pay through the first 50 games of the 2023 season but will be officially reinstated on Friday.
The Dodgers then will have 14 days, until Jan. 6, to determine whether to release him or add him to their 40-man roster.”
Gonzalez also laid out the financial situation Bauer’s return would have on the Los Angeles Dodgers:
“Bauer is entering the final year of a three-year, $102 million contract he signed with the Dodgers in February 2021. He will have lost $37.5 million of that contract through his suspension. The Dodgers saved about $28 million of his salary in 2022 and will save about $9.5 million in 2023, a circumstance that could allow them to dip below the luxury-tax threshold. Bauer’s remaining $22.5 million salary will be guaranteed even if the Dodgers release him.”
Bauer’s last appearance on the mound was on June 28th, 2021. Bauer went six innings in a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Bauer has claimed his innocence since the allegations were known to the public.
The reinstatement of Bauer is said to become official today. Bauer’s whereabouts this upcoming season are still not set in stone. The Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to make a decision on if Bauer will be with the team or not this year.
