In 2022, Trevor Bauer's $45 million salary was the most money that any MLB player was getting paid at the time. Two years later, he's desperately seeking a league-minimum salary in order to return to the big leagues.
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An X post on Thursday from Bauer — whose 194-game suspension from the MLB due to domestic violence allegations is the longest such suspension in league history — noted the logic behind a team signing him.
Blake Snell is going to get hundreds of millions of dollars on a multi year deal. And he should. He deserves it. For a team that doesn’t want to commit multi years, hundreds of millions of dollars, or many elite prospects for a Cy young award winner, they could sign me for league… https://t.co/OA1Xu7uHAT
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) February 7, 2024
Bauer wrote, 'Blake Snell is going to get hundreds of millions of dollars on a multi year deal. And he should. He deserves it. For a team that doesn't want to commit multi years, hundreds of millions of dollars, or many elite prospects for a Cy young award winner, they could sign me for league minimum and pay 0 incremental dollars over what they have to pay to that roster spot anyway. Just another option for teams that want to win and don't want to break the bank.'
Bauer's sentiment was echoed by his lawyer/agent Jon Fetterolf, who said, "This isn't about the money. Really, what [Bauer's] looking for is only a chance and an opportunity.
"And if anything goes awry," Fetterolf added, "You can get rid of him at the minimum."
Bauer being blacklisted by the MLB has nothing to do with his pitching ability. The 2020 NL Cy Young award winner has an 83-69 career record in the MLB, to go along with a respectable 3.79 ERA. In Bauer's 2023 season with the Yokohama Bay Stars of the Japanese Central League, he posted a 10-4 record with a 2.76 ERA.
Rather, concerns about Bauer are related his aforementioned domestic violence case. In addition, Bauer has earned himself a reputation of being a prima donna in the MLB, well before those domestic violence allegations surfaced.
Yet, as Fetterolf noted, "This isn't a guy charged with a crime. Yes, he was suspended, but he served his suspension."
While that is true, the allegation against Bauer turned him into one of the most hated players in recent MLB history. Despite his pitching aptitude, most MLB fanbases would scoff at their team signing Bauer — and front offices are aware of that.
Then again, given that Bauer is willing to play for the league-minimum, there's a chance that some team would be willing to take that PR hit it if means a major upgrade for their depth chart and World Series hopes.
Regardless of Bauer's MLB future, the former Cy Young award winner's fall from grace is unprecedented.
