Trevor Bauer was suspended by the MLB for two years, after a woman accused the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher of sexual assault back in 2021. That is to say, Bauer has denied the claims since day one, and was not charged for any crime in the court of law. Yet, the 33-year-old still finds himself unsigned in the MLB, even though he was technically eligible to play in the league last season after appealing the suspension and being reinstated as of December 2022.
Considering that Bauer's name was cleared of any crime, former New York Yankees star pitcher David Wells thinks that Bauer should have a second chance.
"I hope so.... I guess people are afraid," Wells said to Fox News. "He was a hell of a pitcher. He should go in. I mean look at all these guys in the past who crap all over themselves and get in trouble. And they got second, third, fourth chances."
"Why would you not take a chance on a guy? I mean, if I was an owner and I saw the ability in this guy, and he's not gonna be a distraction to the team, and he's going to go out and pitch, why wouldn't you give him a second chance? I believe in second chances as long as they're solidified and his was solidified."
After MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred suspended Bauer for 324 games for violating the league's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy, it was appealed, and the pitcher only received a 194 game suspension.
As a result, the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner (1.73 ERA; 0.79 WHIP) took his talents to both Japan and Mexico the past two seasons.
During his time in Japan (2023), as a player for the Yokohama Baystars, Bauer had a 11-4 record, with a 2.59 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Then during this season in Mexico (2024), while playing for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico, he has dominated with a 8-0 record, 1.63 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
Certainly, Bauer has enough talent to be added for the league minimum as a free agent for one of the 30 MLB teams. However, when it comes down to it, organizations seemingly don't want to take on the baggage that comes with a player like Bauer, as even before all the legal battles, he wasn't the most well liked player in the league.
Bauer also spoke with Fox News earlier this year, as he claimed that he will strive to be a better teammate and player off the field if any team is willing to take a chance on him.
"Anyone that's willing to sit down with me and listen: I'd like to play the second half of my career in a better way than I played the first half," Bauer said. "I'd like to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adjust and then be better in the future. I think that's something us as humans have to do and should be doing constantly."
As for the woman who falsely accused Bauer, she has been charged with defrauding the baseball player, facing two felony charges (fraud and theft by extortion).
