Dodgers part ways with Trevor Bauer: MLB media reacts
The Dodgers’ decision to part ways with Trevor Bauer was met with positivity from MLB media who praised the organization for doing the right thing.
The Dodgers had until Friday to decide what to do with Trevor Bauer, the pitcher who was initially suspended by MLB for 324 games for violating the league’s domestic violence policy but served 194 games before his suspension was reduced.
They waited until seemingly the last possible moment to announce a decision, but it finally came: Bauer has no place in the Dodgers organization any longer.
LA designated Bauer for assignment while releasing a statement making it clear he will not be back in Dodger Blue. The DFA means the team has a week to trade him before he would become a free agent.
MLB media was largely supportive of the move by the Dodgers, though there was room for criticism for the timing of it as well as the fact that they gave the controversial player a contract in the first place.
MLB media reacts to Dodgers dumping Trevor Bauer
No team expressed interest in trading for Bauer before the Dodgers officially cut ties with him. https://t.co/TA3d1ffU5F
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2023
While it’s not easy to eat $22.5M, the Dodgers, with their great history, in a major media market, with a clubhouse and fan base that would not have easily accepted Bauer back, they had little choice but to cut ties.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 7, 2023
With a DFA, the #Dodgers technically have seven days to trade, waive or release RHP Trevor Bauer, but it's hard to think a team would give up anything to trade for him now. "We have decided that he will no longer be part of our organization," the team said in statement.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) January 7, 2023
3 year $102m deal represents Andrew Friedman’s biggest mistake with #Dodgers even minus the money saved during Bauer’s suspension
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) January 7, 2023
No Dodger blue for Trevor Bauer. They ate $22.5 million to cut ties with him. Another club can sign him for big-league minimum. The Dodgers can sleep at night. https://t.co/3WCqi7z87L
— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) January 7, 2023
There is nothing good that has come out of Trevor Bauer's decisions and behavior, but this is the right course, and I'm glad that the Dodgers made the the only morally defensible choice https://t.co/bb2QoYj2Ym
— Mike Bates (@MikeBatesTWIBH) January 7, 2023
The Dodgers will end up paying Trevor Bauer around $65 million to pitch in 17 games for the organization.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) January 7, 2023
He received just under $4 million per start.
A disaster from pretty much the beginning, but it has officially come to an end.
I would be shocked if a team doesn’t sign Bauer. No one should but I don’t trust these franchises enough to believe all of them will do the right thing.
— Randy Wilkins (@pamsson) January 7, 2023
Take your $22.5 mill & be gone from MLB forever, thx bye #bauer
— Stacie Wheeler (@StacieMWheeler) January 7, 2023
Dodgers waiting until the last minute to either game the Bauer situation and/or late day news dump it is the most cowardly shit ever. Should’ve cut his ass a week ago.
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) January 6, 2023
There is zero chance whatsoever that anyone with actual decision-making authority with the Dodgers told Trevor Bauer, yesterday, that they wanted him back. Some rando in the parking lot at Camelback saying "hope you pitch this year, Trevor!" doesn't count. https://t.co/XEHTTTdXlY
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) January 7, 2023
Bauer faced public accusations of abuse from three different women. He was investigated by authorities in Southern California for an alleged 2021 assault but the district attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges due to lack of evidence.
MLB placed the pitcher on administrative leave while the league did its own investigation into the multiple allegations against Bauer. The league found that he had violated its domestic violence policy and suspended him more than 300 games. That suspension was reduced on appeal in late 2022 and Bauer was reinstated.
The cost of not bringing Bauer back was high for the Dodgers, who will have to fork out his $22.5 million salary for the final year of his contract.
The next question is whether another team will trade for or sign him, and what kind of backlash they will receive for doing so.
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