The Los Angeles Dodgers officially designated right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer for assignment on Friday with a plan to release him. The move comes just two weeks after an independent arbitrator reduced Bauer's record 324-game suspension to 194 for violation of the league's domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy, officially reinstating him into the league.
As a result, the pitcher became immediately eligible to play and the Dodgers had until January 6 to make a decision over whether to keep him or to release him. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the organization will eat $22.5 million in Bauer's salary and any team can pay him the $720,000 league minimum to play upon completion of the suspension. The Dodgers released this statement on Friday:
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– Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 7, 2023