Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer reinstated after suspension reduced to 194 games

MLB has reinstated Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, effective immediately. Bauer has served 144 of 324 games in his initial suspension.

On Thursday night, Major League Baseball announced that Trevor Bauer’s 324-game suspension has been reduced to 196 games based on appeal. Bauer has only served 144 games of that suspension, but arbitrator Martin Scheinman ruled that he is eligible for reinstatement, effective immediately.

To make up for that difference, Bauer will be docked pay from the first 50 games of the regular season.

Here’s MLB’s statement:

“Today, the neutral arbitrator selected by MLB and the MLBPA affirmed that Trevor Bauer violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

“After an exhaustive review of the available evidence the neutral arbitrator upheld an unpaid suspension of 194 games.  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.

“We understand this process was difficult for the witnesses involved and we thank them for their participation.  Due to the collectively bargained confidentiality provisions of the joint program, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”

MLB reinstates Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer after successful appeal

The Los Angeles Dodgers have until January 6 to determine whether to keep Bauer or outright release him. If they do release him, they will eat his roughly $25 million salary in 2023, and he’d be able to sign with any major-league team.

Bauer, of course, has not pitched since June 28, 2021, as he was accused of assault and placed on administrative leave days later. A 27-year-old woman filed a domestic violence restraining order in which she alleged that Bauer assaulted her during two sexual encounters in April and May of that year, according to ESPN. The woman accused Bauer of choking her “unconscious on multiple occasions, repeatedly scratched and punched her throughout her body, sodomized her without consent and left her with injuries that warranted a trip to the emergency room after rough sex.”

Bauer and his attorney, Jon Fetterolf, have adamantly denied the allegations and said the acts were consensual. In a statement following the ruling, the Dodgers said: “We have just been informed of the arbitrator’s ruling and will comment as soon as practical.”

More to come.