Jun 23, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (27) throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres
NEW YORK — Trevor Bauer will do anything to pitch in MLB this season.
That includes playing for the league minimum.
Bauer, who served baseball’s longest domestic violence suspension (194 games), made his plea on social media Thursday night.
“Blake Snell is going to get hundreds of millions of dollars on a multi year deal. And he should. He deserves it. For a team that doesn’t want to commit multi years, hundreds of millions of dollars, they could sign me for league minimum and pay 0 incremental dollars over what they have to pay to that roster spot anyway. Just another option for teams that want to win and don’t want to break the bank.”
It’s a sad turn of events for the former Cy-Young Award winner, who was baseball’s highest salaried player in 2022 at $45 million. But there is still hope. According to his agent/lawyer, Jon Fetterolf, “seven or eight” teams are still communicating with Bauer’s people.
“This isn’t about the money,” Fetterolf said. “Really, what he’s looking for is only a chance and an opportunity. I really feel like he’s done everything he can possibly do. This isn’t a guy charged with a crime. Yes, he was suspended, but he served his suspension.”
With all of that being said, Bauer confirmed that no MLB team had offered him any contract to this point.
More specifically, Bauer was asked about the Diamondbacks, Padres, Phillies, and Cardinals, who have all reportedly shown interest in the 33-year-old. He reiterated that none of those teams had made him an offer, but stated his agents had spoke to the Phillies on multiple occasions.
If all goes wrong, Bauer still has a standing offer to return to the Yokohama Bay Stars, for whom he went 10-4 with a 2.76 ERA last season.
