Trevor Bauer last appeared on the mound back on June 28 in a win over the San Francisco Giants.
Will he ever take the mound again?
News dropped following his start about a restraining order against him for some truly disturbing reports of sexual assault.
The entire situation is a complicated one and the last legal update was a judge ruled a permanent restraining order against Bauer would not remain in place.
However, he is still being investigated by the authorities and even if he claims his actions were consensual, he still violated parts of the MLB domestic violence policy.
Police investigations don’t happen overnight so Bauer has been on administrative leave for months.
Instead of a short extension, MLB has decided to officially end his season.
No new information has surfaced in the Trevor Bauer investigation. Him being out for the rest of the year is just an acknowledgement from the union and league that with MLB’s investigation into him ongoing and the season waning, he was not going to have time to return this year.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 10, 2021
He is also ineligible for the postseason.
A Waiting Game
A determination on his status may not come out until after the season.
That could mean November or even deep into the winter months.
And at this point there is no indication the Los Angeles Dodgers have any desire to see Bauer in their uniform ever again.
No matter the final outcome, his signing is a dark mark on the organization they want to forget.
https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/1436385945251581953
Too bad he still has two massive player options on the contract he signed.
If MLB does not end up suspending him, the Dodgers are going to be on the hook for that money.
There were plenty of warning signs about Bauer before he signed, however, it’s not like the Dodgers were the only team pursuing him.
Trying To Forget
Bauer’s absence has not done anything to hurt the Dodgers on the field this season.
The team entered Saturday with the second-best record in baseball, behind only the division-leading Giants.
They have overcome adversity all year and were still able to add a legend in Max Scherzer at the trade deadline.
So while having Bauer would be nice, him even being in the clubhouse could be bad for team chemistry.
The Dodgers are trying to distance themselves from the pitcher, and are likely going to pay a steep fee to ensure he never returns to the franchise.
This is an awful situation all around, no matter the final legal outcome.
MLB seems intent on letting the legal process play out and making a decision from there.
NEXT: A Healthy Mookie Betts Is What The Dodgers Need For Rest Of Season
