On Friday, Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the MLB Players Association, placed Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer on administrative leave for seven days. Mandatory reporting day in spring training for each MLB player is Sunday, so the seven days will be March 13-19.
Bauer last pitched on June 28 last season. In the days following that start, he was accused of sexual assault and then was placed on administrative leave, eventually, via extensions, for the rest of the season (much of the extensions being one week at a time). On Feb. 8, we learned that Bauer wouldn’t face criminal charges on the matter.
This doesn’t, however, prevent MLB from suspending Bauer. It has previously suspended multiple players after charges have been dropped. The league is fully within its rights under the domestic violence and sexual assault policy to continue its investigation and then apply any punishment it deems fits at the conclusion of said investigation.
To this point, the only thing the league has said is that the investigation is ongoing.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked about Bauer’s status Friday and he said he won’t “close the door completely” (via Juan Toribio) on Bauer joining the team in spring training.
Bauer, 31, signed a three-year, $102 million contract with the Dodgers prior to 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 placed on leave.