Los Angeles Dodgers Must Decide Tomorrow On Trevor Bauer's Fate

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had the last couple of weeks to decide on the future of Trevor Bauer with their organization. Jan. 6th is the day they must decide whether to release him or add him to the 40-man roster. 

Tomorrow is the last day for the #Dodgers to make a decision on pitcher Trevor Bauer.

Shocked it's taken them the entire 14 days to make a public decision.

— Ted (@tlschwerz) January 5, 2023

Although it's thought by most that they'll release him, a report this week by Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times indicates that “the front office has been told at least some players want Bauer back, people with knowledge of the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told The Times.”

Because of the arbitrator's decision to reduce Bauer's record suspension from 324 games to 194 games and immediately reinstate him from the restricted list, the Dodgers will owe him $22.5M for the 2023 season, whether they decide to keep him or not. 

They've been trying to see if any other team would be interested in trading for him, but due to the toxic nature of the issue and the charges that surrounded him, finding a trade partner has not been easy. Plus, if they release him, any team that is still interested can try to sign him without giving up any assets.

His 2023 salary is one of the reasons the Dodgers didn't go in big on free agency this season; with Bauer's salary, they're up against the payroll luxury tax threshold of $233M.

Sexual assault allegations derailed Bauer's career midway through the 2021 season, and he's been on the restricted list since then. Late last year, the LA district attorney’s office decided not to prosecute, determining there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports