MLB Executive: It Will Take "A Team On Another Planet" To Sign Trevor Bauer

Now that he's a free agent, released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, which teams would take a chance at the public and internal scorn that could come from signing him? According to an unnamed MLB executive:

It would have to be a “team on another planet.”

That's the word that MLB Insider Jon Heyman has heard, as well as the fact that none of the New York Yankees, New York Mets or San Diego Padres will go near Bauer. 

Twins don't have plans to engage Trevor Bauer when he becomes a free agent.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) January 11, 2023

Minnesota beat writer Dan Hayes also rules out the Twins.  

Heyman suggested that there are some within the Cincinnati Reds organization that like him, as he behaved—and performed—quite well for them in 2019 and 2020 (including a Cy Young award). But he adds that speculation remains "unconfirmed" and another source thought it was not especially likely that the Reds would go so far as to sign him. 

And yet, despite all this, Heyman says with the dearth of affordable good starting pitching, don't be surprised if some team does take a chance. 

The Boston Red Sox were asked if they would consider signing him, and their answer was an odd one:

Reached out to Red Sox officials to see if the club had a stance on a potential Trevor Bauer pursuit. They cited that the CBA has strict rules preventing teams to dismiss the ideas of signing free agents (either on or off record). It’s a collusion/competition thing.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 12, 2023

Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Red Sox cited a CBA rule that forbids them from "dismissing the idea" of signing a free agent, as it can be considered a form of collusion. Okay, then. 

Any team can sign Bauer for the minimum $720,000. It doesn't take a lot of money, but it'll sure take a lot of cajones.  

Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports