MLB suspends Trevor Bauer for 324 games
In the latest twist in the Trevor Bauer saga, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has handed down the longest non-lifetime ban in baseball history.
In a bizarre twist to the Trevor Bauer saga, Major League Baseball has announced that it is suspending him for 324 games, representing two full seasons, without pay.
Citing violations of Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, the league has enacted the ban effective from Friday, April 29, 2022. This is the longest non-lifetime suspension in the history of baseball.
The case of what to do with Trevor Bauer has percolated for nearly a year now, since he was placed on administrative leave last July 2 when a California woman accused him of beating her unconscious and raping her in his home. Bauer maintained that the two had a consensual rough-sex encounter and that the woman was never unconscious or raped.
It has long been feared amongst the Dodger fans that his lack of contrition would lead to this saga being dragged out much longer than it could have been. It would seem that today’s announcement bears that out. Commissioner Rob Manfred has been visibly irked by Bauer’s insistence that he be allowed to play throughout this past year.
Bauer was never arrested or charged with a crime. A California judge heard evidence in August before ruling in Bauer’s favor. In denying the woman’s request for a five-year restraining order against Bauer, the judge noted that the woman shared responsibility for what happened.
MLB’s policy gives wide powers to the discretion of the commissioner. “Domestic violence includes, but is not limited to, physical or sexual violence, emotional and/or psychological intimidation, verbal violence, stalking, economic control, harassment, physical intimidation, or injury,” is the wording of the policy.
Violence and injury are the key words in Bauer’s case. The woman went to the hospital and was diagnosed with an acute head injury and assault by manual strangulation. Bauer has consistently insisted that he had no part in her injuries and has maintained that, together with her attorney Fred Thiagarajah, she concocted a plan to frame Bauer in an effort to seek millions in damages.
Earlier this week, Bauer lodged two lawsuits naming the woman and her attorney for defamation of character. He has immediately tweeted that he will be appealing MLB’s suspension decision.