Trevor Bauer’s time with the Los Angeles Dodgers could be nearing its end as players reportedly take a stand against him in the clubhouse.
Less than half a season after he signed, it sounds like Trevor Bauer’s time with the Los Angeles Dodgers might be over.
It won’t be a trade that ends his time in LA, rather a player revolt in the clubhouse after the recent sexual assault allegations that were brought against Bauer last month. The pitcher and his reps have denied the claims made against him, he was put on administrative leave, and the investigation remains open.
But what doesn’t appear to be open is an invitation back to the Dodgers. According to a Los Angeles Times report, players in the clubhouse view Bauer as a ‘pariah’. The report also insinuates that the lack of public support from his teammates is intentional.
Per the Los Angeles Times:
Bauer’s career is in jeopardy, and his stay with the Dodgers could be over, the sexual-assault allegations having turned a pitcher in his prime into a pariah in his own clubhouse, where no teammate has spoken publicly about him or come to his defense. Two people with knowledge of Dodgers clubhouse dynamics, who are unauthorized to speak publicly about the situation, said that a majority of players do not want Bauer back under any circumstances.
Bauer signed a three-year, $102 million contract with the Dodgers this winter, and has a player option in 2022 and 2023. At the time, players like Mookie Betts — well aware of Bauer’s abusive reputation — excused his harassment of women as a feature, not a bug.
“He is who he is,” Betts told Bill Plunkett of the OC Register at the time. “You know what you’re getting and so I don’t really worry about it. That doesn’t bother me. He goes out there and competes, he gets wins and those types of things. I don’t know what more you can ask for. You know what you’re getting. He’s got to be Trevor Bauer — you can’t try and turn him into someone else. Obviously, he’s very good. He’s won a Cy Young and it’s not an accident.”
Since the latest allegations came out against Bauer, his Dodgers teammates have reportedly distanced themselves from him going as far as to unfollow him on social media.
That $102 million contract complicates a divorce, as does Bauer having two years of control over what happens to his deal. Under the domestic violence policy, the Dodgers can not release Bauer until the investigation is complete and he serves any discipline.
But as Betts said, the Dodgers knew what they were getting into and no tears will be shed over the team trying to undo its own mistake.