MLB suspended Trevor Bauer for two seasons over sexual assault allegations on Friday.
TThe supposedly terrible person is gone (for now), and baseball is better off without him.
The ban comes after that a legal case in which he may never have been charged criminal, but that’s what he was charged with beating and choking a woman unconscious in two sexual encounters. He has repeatedly denied the claims, saying the rough sex was consensual.
Bauer is appealing the suspension and according to his tweet expects a win.
“I strongly deny violating the league policy on domestic violence and sexual assault,” he posted on twitter. “I am appealing this lawsuit and expect to prevail. As we have done throughout this process, my representatives and I respect the confidentiality of the process.”
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I’m not sure who – other than Bauer and his repulsive supporters – will “win” if the appeal is overturned, but Rob Manfred has handed out the longest suspension in the history of the league’s domestic abuse policy. If upheld, it would be one of the longest, if not the longest suspensions of a player that has not been an outright ban.
If the appeal fails, Bauer will not be credited for time missed during administrative furlough and he may not return to the field until 2024. He has been on leave since last July and has missed a total of 99 games.
Bauer has filed multiple defamation lawsuits, including against his accuser, her attorney Peppystores, The Athletic and its former author Molly Knight. This saga is far from over, but the longer appeals and bureaucracy hamper his return to the diamond, the better.
