LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers are parting ways with pitcher Trevor Bauer, whose unprecedented 324-game suspension came over sexual misconduct allegations reduced two weeks agoso that he can continue his career with the start of the new season.
A person familiar with the situation said Friday the 31-year-old right-hander was earmarked for action, meaning the Dodgers have seven days to release him or act, which is unlikely. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as the team had not announced the move.
If the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner is released, Los Angeles will remain responsible for the more than $22.5 million remaining on the pitcher’s contract.
“After careful consideration, we have decided that he will no longer be a part of our organization,” the Dodgers said in a statement released on Twitter.
The Dodgers had until Friday to put Bauer back on the roster under baseball rules. The team has rarely commented on the divisive case since Bauer was placed on paid administrative leave in July 2021.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred banned Bauer for 324 games for violating the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policies after a San Diego woman said he punched and sexually abused her in 2021. Bauer has claimed he did nothing wrong and said that everything that happened between him and the woman was consensual.
Bauer was never charged with a crime.
The Players’ Association filed a complaint on Bauer’s behalf, and a three-person panel led by independent judge Martin Scheinman began hearing the case last May.
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AP Baseball writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.
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