Bauer faces Dodgers prospects, lobbies for MLB opportunity
Trevor Bauer pitched to Los Angeles Dodgers prospects at the team's minor-league complex Sunday as he took to the mound against professional hitters in the United States for the first time in nearly three years.
Bauer last suited up in the majors with the Dodgers in 2021 before receiving the longest suspension in the history of MLB's joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy. He returned to face his old organization as a member of the pay-to-play Asian Breeze.
"I mean, if you think about it, I should have the opportunity to sign with a big-league team," Bauer said, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. "I'm just asking for the league minimum, so it's not a money thing. I've served my suspension twice over. I've been cleared of everything in the legal system.
"If you think about it logically, there's really no reason I shouldn't have a job. But I don't. So, it is what it is. We'll see how it plays out. I don't want to predict the future. We'll see."
Bauer was given a 324-game ban in April 2022, which was ultimately reduced to 194 contests by an independent arbitrator. The pitcher has been publicly accused of sexual assault by four women but was never formally charged. He also settled a sexual assault lawsuit with one of the women in October 2023.
The 33-year-old joined the Dodgers in February 2021 on a three-year, $102-million contract after winning the 2020 NL Cy Young. He only made 17 starts with the club before being released.
Bauer pitched for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2023.