After several weeks of deliberation, the Los Angeles Dodgers decided on Friday to release pitcher Trevor Bauer, whose suspension over allegations of domestic violence recently ended.
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The City of Angels roster had until Friday to make a decision as the 31-year-old was found fit to return to the baseball field for the first time since July 2, 2021.
On December 22, an independent referee reduced his sentence from 324 to 194 games without pay.
It was still the biggest suspension in major league history. The 10-year veteran had gone to court to respond to a whistleblower from a San Diego woman who accused him of choking her unconscious, hitting her and having sodomy without her consent.
“The Dodgers Organization believes that allegations of sexual assault or domestic violence should be thoroughly investigated and the accused given due process. […]
“Two thorough reviews of all the evidence in this case – one by Commissioner Manfred and one by a neutral referee – have concluded that Mr. Bauer deserves the longest suspension for an active player in our sport for breaking his rules,” they said Dodgers in a statement.
“Now that the process is complete, after careful consideration, we have decided that he will no longer be part of our organization,” she concluded.
Bauer had only played 17 games with the Dodgers and was in the first year of a three-year Monster deal that would net him $103 million. He was then placed on administrative leave in July 2021 before receiving the big leagues verdict last April.
The former Cy-Young Trophy winner with the Cincinnati Reds went 8-5 in 2021 with a 2.59 ERA.
Though he’s now being reinstated into the league, Bauer will not be paid in his first 50 games regardless of the team.