The recently extended manager of the Atlanta Braves, Brian Snitker, was quick to shut down the chance of free agent Trevor Bauer signing with Atlanta when he was asked about Bauer yesterday morning.
Will the #Braves sign Trevor Bauer?
— Tyler Redmond (@tylerredmondtv) January 29, 2023
Brian Snitker has your answer: pic.twitter.com/oTOsP2tw6J
While there is uncertainty about who will grab the fifth spot in the Braves rotation, it is clear the Braves are comfortable enough to roll with one of their internal options rather than try and navigate the PR rodeo that will come with bringing Trevor Bauer into the fold.
As for Bauer, he will have to continue hoping there is a team out there willing to take on all the baggage that will come with him. He is free to sign with any team for the league minimum $720,000 salary as his previous team, the Los Angeles Dodgers are on the hook for his $22.5 million he is owed for the 2023 season.
The Dodgers released Bauer after his record long suspension was reduced from 324 to 194 games. All of which have been retrospectively served since Bauer has been on MLB’s restricted list since 2021 while the MLB worked their investigation under their joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy.
The Dodgers announce they have released Trevor Bauer. He is free to sign with any team for $720,000.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 12, 2023
Bauer will be docked in pay for his first 50 games of the 2023 season should he sign with another team. Bauer has a career ERA of 3.79 and a WHIP of 1.24. Bauer won the NL Cy Young award in the COVID-shortened 60-game season with the Cincinnati Reds when he posted a league leading ERA of 1.73 and had an ERA+ of 284.
The 32 year-old right-hander then signed a three-year $102 million contract to join the defending world champion Dodgers in February of 2021. Bauer then pitched in 17 games for Los Angeles to the tone of a 2.59 ERA before he underwent investigation under MLB’s domestic violence policy. Bauer last pitched on June 28, 2021.
With only a little over a month separating us from spring training games getting underway, it remains to be seen if any team will bring in Bauer to pitch for them. However, one thing we do know is that Bauer won’t be wearing a Braves uniform come 2023. Thank you for making that clear Brian Snitker.