Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer has been officially reinstated after his suspension was cut to 194 games, from the initial 324 game suspension, for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.
According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Bauer’s suspension was reduced by an independent arbitrator, and Bauer’s legal representatives as well as the Dodgers, were informed of the arbitrator’s decision Thursday afternoon, ending a seven-month grievance process.
Bauer, 31, has served 144 games of the suspension, but arbitrator Martin Scheinman essentially gave him credit for the time he served on MLB’s restricted list in the second half of the 2021 season, and Bauer will be docked pay through the first 50 games of the 2023 season but will be officially reinstated on Friday.
The Dodgers then will have 14 days to come to a decision on whether to release Bauer or add him to their 40-man roster – that date is January 6th.
“While we are pleased that Mr. Bauer has been reinstated immediately, we disagree that any discipline should have been imposed” Jon Fetterolf, Shawn Holley and Rachel Luba, Bauer’s legal team, said in an official statement. “That said, Mr. Bauer looks forward to his return to the field, where his goal remains to help his team win a World Series.”
Bauer is entering the final year of a three-year, $102 million contract he signed with the Dodgers in February 2021, losing $37.5 million of that contract through his suspension. Bauer’s remaining $22.5 million salary will be guaranteed even if the Dodgers release him.
“While we believe a longer suspension was warranted, MLB will abide by the neutral arbitrator’s decision, which upholds baseball’s longest-ever active player suspension for sexual assault or domestic violence,” MLB wrote in its statement. “We understand this process was difficult for the witnesses involved and we thank them for their participation. Due to the collectively bargained confidentiality provisions of the joint program, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”
