Trevor Bauer, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was suspended for two complete seasons by Major League Baseball on Friday, April 29. Bauer has been suspended for 324 games without pay for violating the league’s joint domestic violence policy.
Sexual assault allegations
The Dodgers signed the 31-year-old baseball player for three years at a cost of $102 million. With his last appearance against the San Francisco Giants on June 28, his suspension was cut short. Bauer was given a temporary restraining order on claims of sexual assault during two meetings at the pitcher’s residence the next day by a 27-year-old woman from San Diego.
Consequently, Bauer was granted administrative leave but was still paid in July of last year. This is a leave that was approved by the players’ union and was extended multiple times in the months that followed until a decision was made on Friday. Bauer’s punishment, which will extend until the second half of the 2024 season, will not be affected by his administrative leave.
After a four-day hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court judge Diana Gould-Saltman granted the temporary restraining order on August 19, concluding that Bauer had not intimidated the woman. Moreover, following a five-month investigation, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office declined to press charges against Bauer in February of this year.
Bauer had previously been accused of sexual assault by an Ohio woman in 2020, which he had denied. So far, three women have reported similar allegations, all of which have been vehemently denied by the accused.
Bauer to appeal MLB decision
A player does not have to be charged or sentenced to suspension under the league’s joint domestic violence policy with MLB and the Players’ Association, but he or she can appeal the decision to an arbitration tribunal. Bauer filed an appeal with an independent arbitration panel in New York in response to the ruling.
In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league’s domestic violence & sexual assault policy. I am appealing this action and expect to prevail. As we have throughout this process, my representatives & I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) April 29, 2022
Bauer will be the first player not to negotiate a settlement with the league as a result of the MLB’s joint domestic violence policy and the MLB Players’ Association. This policy, which has been in effect since August 2015, permits players to accept a one-match punishment in exchange for not challenging the league’s decision. Bauer will be unable to compete during the appeal process in this manner. This is the longest suspension the relevant policy has ever imposed.
Bauer denied committing the offenses he was charged with on a Twitter post. He filed an appeal against the charges brought against him, and he believes he will be successful. He also stated that his party and representatives will keep the appeal process private. As a result, neither the accuser, the accused, nor the lawyers gave any additional information.
The pitcher had already refuted the charges on numerous occasions. He maintains that he and the woman had a mutually beneficial relationship. On April 25, Bauer and his attorneys filed a libel claim in the United States District Court. The woman was accused of attempting to smear Bauer’s character and baseball career, as well as extorting millions of dollars from the accused in order to be the center of attention.
Bauer has also launched a slander action against The Athletic for publicizing a petition seeking protection for the woman.