In neutral arbitrator reduced Trevor Bauer’s unpaid suspension from 324 games to 194, making Bauer cleared to return for the start of the 2023 season.
Bauer, the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, has been immediately reinstated. He served the longest suspension in the history of Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.
MLB suspended Bauer in April of 2022 as three women accused the starting pitcher of sexual assault. Bauer was not charged with any crimes, publicly denied any wrongdoing and sued one of his accusers.
“While we believe a longer suspension was warranted, MLB will abide by the neutral arbitrator’s decision, which upholds baseball’s longest-ever active player suspension for sexual assault or domestic violence,” MLB said in a news release Thursday.
Bauer is the first player to appeal a suspension under the domestic violence policy. The reduced suspension cost him an estimated $37.5 million in salary.
The Dodgers signed Bauer to a three-year, $102 million contract ahead of the 2021 season, making 2023 the last year of the deal. MLB rules give the Dodgers two weeks to either place Bauer back on the roster from the restricted list or release him.
In a tweet, the Dodgers said “We have just been informed of the arbitrator’s ruling and will comment as soon as practical.”
Bauer last pitched on June 28, 2021, in a 3-2 win over the Giants in Dodger Stadium. He’s made 17 starts for the Dodgers, posting a 2.59 ERA.
