Report: Dodgers surprised by one aspect of Bauer decision

The Los Angeles Dodgers have two weeks to resolve what they wish to do with Trevor Bauer now that the he has been reinstated, and it feels like they anticipated to have extra time to handle the state of affairs.

Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Instances was informed by individuals aware of the state of affairs that the Dodgers did not expect Bauer’s arbitration ruling to come for at the least one other few weeks. Workforce officers had been alerted that Bauer’s suspension was lowered lower than an hour earlier than Main League Baseball introduced the information. Some with the Dodgers had no superior discover.

Bauer was suspended for 2 full seasons — 324 video games — again in April. He had the suspension lowered by an arbitrator to 194 video games, which is the portion of the ban he had already served. That made Bauer instantly eligible.

Dodgers officers had been bracing for the suspension to be lowered, in line with Harris. The staff has till Jan. 6 to both add Bauer to the energetic roster or launch him. One report indicated L.A. plans to do the latter, however Harris was informed the Dodgers are nonetheless weighing their choices.

The Dodgers might be on the hook for many of Bauer’s $32 million wage for 2023 no matter what they resolve to do. The arbitrators dominated that Bauer should forfeit 50 video games of wage in 2023 since he acquired pay whereas on administrative depart from June 2021-April 2022. (His suspension was introduced on April 29, 2022.) This implies the Dodgers should pay Bauer over $22 million for 2023 even when they reduce him. That cash would depend towards the posh tax.

Harris notes that having to pay most of Bauer’s wage for 2023 might complicate the Dodgers’ plans. They’d positioned themselves to be under the posh tax in an effort to pursue a marquee free agent like Shohei Ohtani subsequent 12 months. They could now have bother getting under the brink with Bauer’s cash on the books.

The Dodgers might activate Bauer, which might require them to drop another person from their 40-man roster. They may then try to commerce the 31-year-old, although it appears unlikely {that a} staff would tackle his wage given the circumstances.

Bauer denied wrongdoing within the sexual misconduct allegations. He was not criminally charged despite an investigation, however MLB nonetheless suspended him 324 games beneath its home violence and sexual assault coverage.