Will Trevor Bauer pitch for Dodgers again? [Updated]

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer will not be criminally charged after sexual assault allegations against him. But what does his future look like?

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the sexual encounters at issue occurred in 2020.  In fact, they occurred in 2021.  This article has also been updated with additional details about the number of encounters and about the proceedings in which Bauer’s accuser unsuccessfully sought a restraining order against him.

Trevor Bauer was supposed to be a vital piece of the Los Angeles Dodgers defending their World Series title this past season but sexual assault allegations and the subsequent legal proceedings left him placed on administrative leave by MLB. Now, there is a development in the legal process or, rather, the lack thereof moving forward.

On Tuesday, TMZ reported that Bauer will not be criminally charged for what occurred during two sexual encounters in spring 2021 with a woman who claimed she suffered physical wounds, among other things, during the incidents.

That doesn’t mean that Bauer is now off scot-free, though.

Trevor Bauer news: Dodgers pitcher could still face civil lawsuit

Though there won’t be any criminal charges levied against Bauer, the possibility of a civil lawsuit remains. We don’t yet know if that’s on the table. The temporary restraining order that had forbidden Bauer from contacting his accuser was lifted in August when the court noted that the accuser’s petition was “materially misleading” and concluded that the accuser “did not sustain the applicable burden of proof” to maintain the restraining order.

Will Trevor Bauer play for the Dodgers again?

It remains to be seen if Bauer is going to play in Los Angeles again. While he is not criminally charged according to the reports, the hurler is still under investigation by MLB, which has not yet come to any conclusions.

The results of the league’s investigation will go a long way in telling baseball fans, Dodgers fans, and the club itself about the future of the pitcher.

Trevor Bauer contract: How much do Dodgers still owe pitcher?

As many know, Bauer signed a monstrous three-year, $102 million deal with LA prior to the start of last season, leaving him due $32 million in base salary plus his signing bonus over each of the next two seasons with the club.

Now, the Dodgers could potentially get out of the contract if the organization wins an insurance claim against the 31-year-old pitcher. Moreover, there is a player option for the 2023 season in the contract, which adds another wrinkle to his future.