Trevor Bauer’s 324-game suspension for violating the league’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy was reduced to 194 games by an arbitration panel Thursday.
Bauer’s suspension remains the longest to be handed down under that policy since it went into effect in 2015.
Bauer’s appeal came immediately after Commissioner Rob Manfred announced his punishment on April 29, although the actual hearing didn’t begin until May 23. Bauer was first placed on administrative leave in July 2021, after a San Diego woman accused him of sexual assault during an encounter that began as consensual and, she said, turned violent. The Washington Post reported similar allegations from two other women this summer. Bauer has denied any wrongdoing.
The decision was largely in the hands of the neutral arbitrator, Martin Scheinman, who was approved by both the Players Association and the league. The other two members of the panel were an MLB-selected appointee and one selected by the Players Association.
In Bauer’s case, Scheinman was tasked with deciding whether MLB had “just cause” to suspend Bauer for 324-games, which is the equivalent of two full seasons, double the previous high for a player who was found to have violated that same policy. The process, sources say, involved multiple women testifying against Bauer’s conduct. The appeal process, which was done a few days a month according to the arbitrators’ schedules, finished with closing arguments earlier this month, sources told The Athletic.
Bauer is currently on the restricted list and was not paid while the grievance process unfolded, although the games he missed — after Manfred’s initial announcement — count towards his total suspension.
Following the reinstatement, Bauer’s agent Rachel Luba issued a statement on Twitter along with attorneys Jon Fetterolf and Shawn Holley. “While we are pleased that Mr. Bauer has been reinstated immediately, we disagree that any discipline should have been imposed. mr. Bauer looks forward to his return to the field, where his goal remains to help his team win a WS.”
In February, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office declined to press charges against Bauer. MLB can issue punishments to players under its current policy, even if they are not charged with or convicted of a crime.
Shortly after the league announced Bauer’s initial punishment, he tweeted: “In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league’s domestic violence & sexual assault policy. I am appealing this action and expect to prevail. As we have throughout this process, my representatives & I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.”
The Dodgers signed Bauer to a three-year, $102-million deal prior to the 2021 season. In a statement issued after the initial suspension, the organization said it “takes all allegations of this nature very seriously and does not condone or excuse any acts of domestic violence or sexual assault. We’ve cooperated fully with MLB’s investigation since it began, and we fully support MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy, and the Commissioner’s enforcement of the Policy. We understand that Trevor has the right to appeal the Commissioner’s decision.”
(Photo: Orlando Ramirez / USA Today)
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