MLB extend Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave… again
Unwilling to make a decision on the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching ace, MLB and the players association have extended his administrative leave until April 29
In one of the most epic examples of the kicking the can down the road, the MLB has announced that they will extend Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave. Again.
Set to expire on Thursday, the league has announced that Bauer’s leave will be extended to April 29. So far, Bauer has missed 105 games since he was placed on administrative leave last July. The league has painted itself into a corner with this case, since a suspension would be the way out of this mess. Bauer, however, maintains that he has done nothing wrong and should not be suspended.
In February, the Los Angeles public prosecutor announced that a five-month investigation into a sexual assault allegation failed to show criminal wrongdoing and that they would not be filing charges against Bauer. He has always maintained that he and the woman had consensual rough sex. He requested that cellphone records obtained by the Pasadena Police Department be handed over to his attorney in a bid to show that the woman had “a plan to seek rough sex so she could later seek to profit.” That request was denied by a judge.
At the heart of the issue is the $38 million salary that the Dodgers are still paying. Any suspension would mean a loss of salary, and Bauer is indignant that he should not be penalized financially. The Dodgers seem content to simply pension him off and the league appears to be happy to go along with this. Most baseball insiders think it unlikely that the 2020 Cy Young winner will ever play for the Dodgers again.
His case has lit a touchpaper in southern California, where supporters of Bauer, who argue that he has been exonerated and should return immediately, square off with opponents, who argue that the accusation is enough to see him booted from baseball.