USATSI
On Friday, Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the MLB Players Association, placed Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer on administrative leave for seven days. The mandatory spring training reporting day for every MLB player is Sunday, so the seven days will run from March 13-19.
Bauer last crashed on June 28 last season. A few days after that start, he was accused of sexual assault and then placed on administrative leave, eventually in the form of extensions for the remainder of the season (most extensions are one week). On February 8, we learned that Bauer would not face criminal charges in this regard.
However, this does not stop MLB from suspending Bauer. He previously suspended several players after the charges were dropped. The League has every right, in accordance with the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Policy, to proceed with the investigation and then to impose any punishment it deems appropriate upon completion of said investigation.
For now, the only thing the league has said is that the investigation is ongoing.
On Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked about Bauer’s status and said he would not “completely close the door.”via Juan Toribio) about Bauer joining the team for spring training.
Bauer, 31, signed a three-year, $102 million contract with the Dodgers ahead of last season. He was 8-5 with a 2.59 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 137 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings with the Dodgers before he was retired.