Trevor Bauer Reinstated; Eligible Immediately

[JosephC]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35393987/los-angeles-dodgers-dfa-embattled-pitcher-trevor-bauer

From the linked article-

"The Dodgers organization believes that allegations of sexual assault or domestic violence should be thoroughly investigated, with due process given to the accused."

The part about due process given to the accused is a load of crap.  It sure looks like the Dodgers conspired with MLB to wiggle their way out a contract they no longer wanted.  Look what happened when this case went before an independent arbitrator who had access to all the facts.

And sure, guilty parties are not charged with crimes often due to lack of sufficient evidence.  But the closest we get to evaluating the facts in a court of law, and the following happens.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/dodgers/2021/08/19/trevor-bauer-dodgers-restraining-order-rescinded-judge/8191147002/

The judge did not think Bauer exceeded the limits that his accuser had set.  Bauer ceased doing two things she didn't like during sex after she communicated it to him.  They also had a pre-arranged safe word and Bauer stopped when part of the safe word was said.

Almost insulting to the general public that the Dodgers put the term "due process" in their press release. 

[Rock hard Brouhard]

Let’s just take the accusation off the table for the moment. Is he a number 1 guy? Not on this team and I would argue not on most mlb teams…… in my opinion he is a well marketed version of Sonny Gray that is accused of having a toxic clubhouse personality . While he did earn a Cy Young , he did it in a short season in which he pitched 11 games. He agreed to sign a 100 million contract in a pitcher friendly park ( although his away stats looked good) . He has not pitched to major league hitting in almost 2 years and has not pitched a full season since 2019. Im not sold that he would be above average in 2023. 

[JosephC]

4 minutes ago, Rock hard Brouhard said:

Let’s just take the accusation off the table for the moment. Is he a number 1 guy? Not on this team and I would argue not on most mlb teams…… in my opinion he is a well marketed version of Sonny Gray that is accused of having a toxic clubhouse personality . While he did earn a Cy Young , he did it in a short season in which he pitched 11 games. He agreed to sign a 100 million contract in a pitcher friendly park ( although his away stats looked good) . He has not pitched to major league hitting in almost 2 years and has not pitched a full season since 2019. Im not sold that he would be above average in 2023. 

Congrats with bringing up Sonny Gray.

Since 2018 there have been 56 MLB pitchers that have thrown at least 550 innings.

Of those 56, Bauer ranks 19th in xFIP (3.70).  Sonny Gray ranks 20th (3.71). 

There is more of a difference in SIERA.  Bauer is 12th at 3.58 and Gray is 20th at 3.95.

Based on the SIERA ranking, I'd wouldn't call Bauer a premier pitcher, but I would classify him as something like a "back-end ace" if you want to use some fairly ridiculous terminology.

That SIERA rank does lie just outside the top 20%, but when factoring in that only 56 pitchers in a league have hit that inning number, placing 12th on that list is pretty impressive.

If he's on a roll, he's as good as any pitcher the Brewers have.  2018 and 2020 pretty much demonstrate that.  But like with Sonny Gray, there are stretches where he is not on a roll.

I'm not saying the Brewers should sign Bauer.  But if the Brewers long-term plan is to trade Burnes and Woodruff after this season rather than hold them and see them walk away for virtually nothing after the following season, it certainly wouldn't be crazy to add Bauer for cheap and just try have a rotation that would just blow away opposing lineups.  If the long-term plans make 2023 a one-year, have to go-for-it type season, I don't think anything that could improve the ballclub should be off the table.  Again, I'm not saying the Brewers should sign Bauer...actually at this point I would be in favor of them holding the money and trying to make a splash at the trade deadline when they know what areas of the team are a problem and what areas of the team are not a problem.

[SF70]

11 hours ago, Rock hard Brouhard said:

Let’s just take the accusation off the table for the moment. Is he a number 1 guy? Not on this team and I would argue not on most mlb teams…… in my opinion he is a well marketed version of Sonny Gray that is accused of having a toxic clubhouse personality . While he did earn a Cy Young , he did it in a short season in which he pitched 11 games. He agreed to sign a 100 million contract in a pitcher friendly park ( although his away stats looked good) . He has not pitched to major league hitting in almost 2 years and has not pitched a full season since 2019. Im not sold that he would be above average in 2023. 

Bauer knows more about pitching than most pitching coaches. He has his.body trained to throw 120+ pitches every 4 days. His stamina will help protect the bullpen of his team in a huge way.

This makes him extremely valuable and a true ace.

[owbc]

I doubt anyone picks him up before the start of the season. The legal issues are ongoing and not in the past. Players don’t want to be on a team with him (the Dodgers players were asked if he should be on the team in 2023). 
 

Whatever the upside is, it’s not worth the distractions and media circus in February and March, not to mention the hit to the reputation of the organization. I also question whether there is much upside, the last we saw of him was a 4.0 FIP in 2021 and he’s now 32 and been off an extended time. The Dodgers had 22 million reasons to take a chance at his upside and they passed. 
 

There’s a decent chance he pitches in MLB again, but if he does it will be a mid-season acquisition. 

[jerichoholicninja]

6 hours ago, owbc said:

I doubt anyone picks him up before the start of the season. The legal issues are ongoing and not in the past. Players don’t want to be on a team with him (the Dodgers players were asked if he should be on the team in 2023). 
 

Whatever the upside is, it’s not worth the distractions and media circus in February and March, not to mention the hit to the reputation of the organization. I also question whether there is much upside, the last we saw of him was a 4.0 FIP in 2021 and he’s now 32 and been off an extended time. The Dodgers had 22 million reasons to take a chance at his upside and they passed. 
 

There’s a decent chance he pitches in MLB again, but if he does it will be a mid-season acquisition. 

Media circus in Milwaukee? Most of the national media doesn't even know there's a major league baseball team in Milwaukee and the local media will still be talking about Rodgers and the Packers come spring training.

[wibadgers23]

1 hour ago, jerichoholicninja said:

Media circus in Milwaukee? Most of the national media doesn't even know there's a major league baseball team in Milwaukee and the local media will still be talking about Rodgers and the Packers come spring training.

Yeah that’s why I think Bauer to Milwaukee or another small market team makes sense, especially this year. He’ll fly a little more under the radar.

[nate82]

If Bauer signs with the Brewers he will only be hounded by the media for about one day and then he will be forgotten by the national media until he plays in LA or NYC.

The media circus just won’t be there in Milwaukee like it would be in NYC or LA.  The concern about him rubbing guys the wrong way is accurate.  But that hasn’t stopped teams in the past with Clemens, Schilling, Bonds, Sheffield and others.  

[owbc]

18 hours ago, nate82 said:

If Bauer signs with the Brewers he will only be hounded by the media for about one day and then he will be forgotten by the national media until he plays in LA or NYC.

The media circus just won’t be there in Milwaukee like it would be in NYC or LA.  The concern about him rubbing guys the wrong way is accurate.  But that hasn’t stopped teams in the past with Clemens, Schilling, Bonds, Sheffield and others.  

"How do you feel about Bauer?" would be the question asked to every single player and coach in the Brewers' organization for all of spring training. The local media would do it as well. And every time there is some new bit of news with his legal cases it will be in the news cycle again. And all eyes on every one of his pitching appearances. There's no way that it wouldn't be a huge distraction. 

Again, different story in the regular season when they can pick him up and send him on an assignment.

I still think there's a 0% chance that we touch that dumpster fire. 

[Axman59]

Picking up Bauer does not seem like something MA would do.

[Brewcrew82]

I do think a team will end up taking a chance on him given his talent level (though not the Brewers). Unfortunately, that's just how the world works. I just hope it's not for the Cubs or Cardinals...

[wibadgers23]

10 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I do think a team will end up taking a chance on him given his talent level (though not the Brewers). Unfortunately, that's just how the world works. I just hope it's not for the Cubs or Cardinals...

The Cardinals will pick him up and he will pitch absolutely lights out.  Because that is what the Cardinals do.

[wiguy94]

15 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I do think a team will end up taking a chance on him given his talent level (though not the Brewers). Unfortunately, that's just how the world works. I just hope it's not for the Cubs or Cardinals...

Cardinals just feels like such a match for him. Their rotation is solid but nothing special. If he goes there I hope he sucks but knowing our luck he will be 2018 Bauer and have a Cy Young worthy season

[TURBO]

The only way to stop the Cards from grabbing him is that we go get him first.

It would probably end in a nightmare, but the risk reward is intriguing. 

[sveumrules]

Not sure if there is a comprehensive list somewhere, but MLBTR mentions that the Yankees, Mets, Padres, Guardians and Twins are all out on Bauer.

[wibadgers23]

2 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Not sure if there is a comprehensive list somewhere, but MLBTR mentions that the Yankees, Mets, Padres, Guardians and Twins are all out on Bauer.

Kinda surprised to see the Yankees, Mets and Padres already out on him.  Still think some team takes a chance on him but it might take awhile for that to happen.

[Robocaller]

6 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Not sure if there is a comprehensive list somewhere, but MLBTR mentions that the Yankees, Mets, Padres, Guardians and Twins are all out on Bauer.

I've heard of "all-in" but not "all out." This means they've said they're NOT interested?

 

[MrTPlush]

If no one signs him it’s because the media and/or league made him not signable like Colin Kaepernick.

I have no doubt the MLB has plenty of owners that would sign him and not care one bit.

I always find these kind of cases in sports to be so ridiculous when it comes to what the league does. It’s all over the board and never consistent. That being said, it shocks me a high profile athlete would even do this type of behavior with some random person they don’t know that much. Long term relationship, sure, but this kind of relationship? Seems like you are destined to eventually get burned.

[brewcrewdue80]

7 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Not sure if there is a comprehensive list somewhere, but MLBTR mentions that the Yankees, Mets, Padres, Guardians and Twins are all out on Bauer.

Surprised the Twins are out.  Angels are always in need of pitching beside the Twins.  Miami would also be a team to sign him, especially if there were able to trade away one of their stud pitchers for a bat or two they want and need.  Legit two seedy places where what Bauer did is tame and not taboo.

[Jake McKibbin]

11 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

If no one signs him it’s because the media and/or league made him not signable like Colin Kaepernick.

I have no doubt the MLB has plenty of owners that would sign him and not care one bit.

I always find these kind of cases in sports to be so ridiculous when it comes to what the league does. It’s all over the board and never consistent. That being said, it shocks me a high profile athlete would even do this type of behavior with some random person they don’t know that much. Long term relationship, sure, but this kind of relationship? Seems like you are destined to eventually get burned.

Im not quite sure Kaepernick and Bauer should be mentioned in the same sentence

[Outlander]

If nobody signs him it is because of Bauer not the media, I'm sure Bauer is on board for that excuse though 

[MrTPlush]

3 hours ago, jakedood said:

Im not quite sure Kaepernick and Bauer should be mentioned in the same sentence

I am not comparing what they did. I think that should be pretty easy to comprehend without trying to twist it like I am comparing sexual assault allegations and kneeling during a song. 

[Jake McKibbin]

5 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

I am not comparing what they did. I think that should be pretty easy to comprehend without trying to twist it like I am comparing sexual assault allegations and kneeling during a song. 

I'll go into more detail here (And excuse a lack of knowledge here if thats the case) because I ddint mean to twist anything

 

Kaepernick was kept out by the league owners due to using peaceful protest as way to highlight the grievances against himself and his community

I think with Bauer its nothing to do with the league or the media, its his own perverse actions that brought about legal cases. Kaepernick used peaceful protest. I just dont think they are in any way comparable cases, as Bauer has entirely villainised himself. Wasnt trying to twist things, so apologies if it came across that way

 

He'd quite possibly not get signed at all if the owners all agreed as such, but otherwise i think there will be a lot of side eyeing, someone will sign him purely to stop others getting him (Ie if someones going to have him, it may as well be me attitude)

[MrTPlush]

8 minutes ago, jakedood said:

I'll go into more detail here (And excuse a lack of knowledge here if thats the case) because I ddint mean to twist anything

 

Kaepernick was kept out by the league owners due to using peaceful protest as way to highlight the grievances against himself and his community

I think with Bauer its nothing to do with the league or the media, its his own perverse actions that brought about legal cases. Kaepernick used peaceful protest. I just dont think they are in any way comparable cases, as Bauer has entirely villainised himself. Wasnt trying to twist things, so apologies if it came across that way

 

He'd quite possibly not get signed at all if the owners all agreed as such, but otherwise i think there will be a lot of side eyeing, someone will sign him purely to stop others getting him (Ie if someones going to have him, it may as well be me attitude)

I guess all I am trying to say is, if Bauer ends up getting signed by no MLB team and not even offered some kind of MiLB deal...then I think there is more going behind the scenes to keep him from getting signed than his poor image. Whether that is his own doing or not isn't what I was trying to get at. I can't imagine all 30 teams really care enough to not sign him, so if he is signed...I have to imagine the league just collectively decided to blacklist him. 

At least Bauer wouldn't be a weekly circus. No one would care by the end of Spring Training. Really easy to dump a guy who is making $720k too.

[Jopal78]

15 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

If no one signs him it’s because the media and/or league made him not signable like Colin Kaepernick.

I have no doubt the MLB has plenty of owners that would sign him and not care one bit.

I always find these kind of cases in sports to be so ridiculous when it comes to what the league does. It’s all over the board and never consistent. That being said, it shocks me a high profile athlete would even do this type of behavior with some random person they don’t know that much. Long term relationship, sure, but this kind of relationship? Seems like you are destined to eventually get burned.

Don’t be so naive. You think Bauer is the rare case of a pro-athlete using fame and fortune to get gratification?

He’s a dumbass plain and simple, and a scumbag to boot. That’s why he’s not signed right now. Baseball sells its self as family entertainment. Right now it’s impossible to defend providing “family entertainment” while featuring a guy who made national headlines for choking a woman unconscious in his bedroom. 
 

Like I said, Ray Lewis went on trial for murder, and is in the Hall of Fame. Matt Bush was drunk driving, ran over a man’s head with a car, went to prison and is on the Brewers. In time Bauer will be fine.