Trevor Bauer, a free-agent right-hander who was suspended for 324 games under MLB’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy, has made a surprising move by signing a one-year contract worth $4 million with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), following his release by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Under the terms of his previous three-year, $102 million contract, the Dodgers are still required to pay Bauer for the rest of his 2023 salary. Since Bauer has signed with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), which is regarded as the world’s second-best baseball league after MLB, there is now a lot of speculation about his future career plans.
Bauer’s future plans in the MLB remain uncertain; however, his decision to play in Japan may raise the NPB’s profile and motivate more players to pursue careers there. To retain its position as the second-best baseball league globally and rival the MLB, the NPB must continue to attract young talent.
The former Cy Young winner, Trevor Bauer, heads to Japan after being released by the Dodgers and unable to secure a deal with any MLB team
Before being accused of sexual assault by a woman in California, Trevor Bauer, the 31-year-old right-hander, had a promising career ahead of him. He won the National League Cy Young in 2020, having thrown 73 innings of 1.73 ERA ball with the Cincinnati Reds. He also had an impressive strikeout rate of 36% against a 6.1% walk rate.
It is possible that Bauer’s decision to join a team in Japan is a hint that he plans to make a comeback in the MLB. After being released by the Dodgers, he is eligible to sign with any team for the league minimum, but no team has shown interest in him so far. The impact of his move on his career and its potential to enhance his chances of returning to the MLB remain unclear.
Enforcement of the MLB’s policy on domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse does not require criminal charges. Despite no criminal charges being filed against Trevor Bauer, Commissioner Rob Manfred suspended him for violating the policy. The L.A. district attorney declined to pursue charges against Bauer.
The decision of Bauer to join the NPB has sparked discussions about the league’s reputation and its ability to attract more high-profile players. Despite being the second-best baseball league in the world, NPB is not as popular or as profitable as the MLB. Nevertheless, the league has been successful in attracting foreign talent from countries such as the United States, Korea, and Taiwan in recent years.
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