Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association on Thursday agreed to extend Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave through April 16, according to reports, preventing him from joining the Los Angeles Dodgers for the start of the regular season.
Bauer remains off the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
“I certainly heard and saw his thoughts about a month ago, so he’s been staying in shape,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on the Rich Eisen Show on Thursday. “I don’t know where he is as far as a reserve list, or how it works. I just don’t know that. So I don’t want to close the door completely.”
Roberts’ comments came before news of the latest extension of Bauer’s leave.
Bauer was placed on leave last season after sexual assault allegations surfaced in late June. Last month, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office elected not to file charges in the case, but the ruling did not eliminate the possibility of continued discipline by the league.
Bauer has an April 4 court date to determine whether he’s privy to missing text messages from his accuser, ESPN reported. Bauer won’t speak with league investigators until after that hearing, per the report.
Bauer did not pitch after June 28, once allegations revealed an aggressive sexual encounter with a woman that was alleged to have caused injuries. The Pasadena (Calif.) Police Department launched an investigation while MLB placed Bauer on leave, then extended it multiple times throughout the season, including the playoffs.
An initial ruling in August dissolved a restraining order that was filed by the woman who made the assault allegations.
Bauer made just 17 starts last season and pitched 107 2/3 innings to begin a three-year, $102 million free-agent deal he signed in February 2021. He was 8-5 with a 2.59 ERA last season and received his full $35.3 million pay in 2021.
The Dodgers have yet to indicate if Bauer will be welcomed back if and when his MLB leave is lifted.
–Field Level Media