Pursuant to the joint domestic violence agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer has been on administrative leave since mid-2021. He was initially placed on leave after allegations surfaced about serious sexual abuse with a woman who was seeking a restraining order. That order was denied, and the prosecutor’s office subsequently decided not to pursue charges. Bauer has denied that there was any assault, and has maintained that the encounter was consensual.
Since MLB’s investigation began, the league and the union have periodically agreed to extend Bauer’s leave, presumably until the Commissioner’s Office is prepared to levy punishment. The latest agreement would have had Bauer out until at least April 22.
But according to a new L.A. Times report, Bauer may have … simply decided he’s had enough? And could just show up this weekend at Dodger Stadium:
If Bauer takes the position that the most recent extension to his leave is not binding, commissioner Rob Manfred could have to levy any suspension by the end of the day Saturday or risk Bauer showing up at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.https://t.co/AWHS9qDmtv
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) April 15, 2022
What an ugly scene this could create for the Dodgers if Bauer – whom the Dodgers may ultimately want to release whenever he’s reinstated – just shows up and demands to be part of the team again. How do you stop that? I mean, practically speaking. Do you get security? It’s wild to even think about.
Ultimately, I doubt that scene is what Bauer and his camp would want to create. Instead, reading the report, it sounds like the intention here is to force the Commissioner’s Office to make its punishment decision by Saturday night. I guess we’ll see what happens.