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It seems that Trevor Bauer’s comeback to Major League Baseball could be a matter of “when” rather than “if.”
Bauer earned the National League Cy Young Award in 2020 with the Cincinnati Reds before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency.
However, his once-promising career was derailed by a sexual assault case and subsequent suspension from MLB.
Bauer was never charged with a crime, as the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office decided not to proceed after investigating the allegations made by the first woman.
“After thoroughly reviewing the available evidence, which includes the civil restraining order proceedings, witness statements, and physical evidence, the People are unable to prove the relevant charges beyond a reasonable doubt,” stated the prosecutors at the time.
The former ace then signed with Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league and eventually settled a civil case with his accuser. Yet, doubts remained about his future in the US.
Those doubts grew louder as he initially struggled with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
However, Bauer eventually found his stride. He recorded a 2.76 ERA in 130 2/3 innings and struck out 24.3% of opposing batters.
Now that his one-year deal is over, Bauer is a free agent, and according to Jon Heyman, there is a possibility of him returning to Major League Baseball in 2024.
Trevor Bauer’s representatives, Jon Fetterolf and Rachel Luba, are currently meeting with teams in the hopes of securing a job for Bauer in MLB. Bauer had a 10-4 record with a 2.76 ERA for Yokohama, including a remarkable 9-2 record with a 1.97 ERA in his last 15 starts. His fastball velocity increased by an average of 1 mph, reaching a maximum of 99.3 mph.
Bauer’s agents are reportedly discussing potential interest with teams.
Whether or not this interest will result in concrete offers remains to be seen.
On the field, Bauer’s talent is undeniable. Although he will turn 33 in January, he has had a light workload in recent years. At his best, he is a top-tier pitcher for any team.
However, it is off the field where concerns arise.
Bauer’s sexual assault allegations are not his first off-field issues, and he has had problems in multiple team environments.
Whether or not a team considers his talent to outweigh the potential complications will likely determine his chances of returning to MLB.
According to the Source brobible.com