The case for Trevor Bauer to return to the Major Leagues
Hypotheticals can be dangerous arguments to engage in, but I am not one to shy away from opening polarizing lines of discussion, so here goes.
Will Trevor Bauer ever pitch again in the Major Leagues?
Let me be clear right up front, I am not advocating for criminal acts, against anyone. That being said, I feel that the question needs to be asked, as it would seem that there are some varying opinions when it comes to this topic.
Especially when you look at the number of players that have been allowed to continue their Major League careers following various accusations and verified incidents of domestic violence against spouses and partners. One such incident involved former Blue Jay phenom Roberto Osuna who, in 2018, served a 75-game suspension following allegations that were levied against him and were subsequently eventually dropped leading to his being dealt to the Houston Astros, where he would continue his career on a pro mound.
Bauer, who has spent the last 3 seasons playing in both Japan and most recently Mexico, has been seeking a return to the MLB following serving am unprecedented 194-day ban (which was reduced from what was originally 324 games) after he was sued for allegedly physically and sexually assaulting a woman in 2021 while he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prosecutors refused to file official charges following a lengthy investigation, and the civil suit (which also included a counter-suit filed by Bauer against the woman) was settled with out of court with neither parties receiving damages.
Additionally, Bauer also retained the right to publicly address the allegations in an attempt to defend his reputation and perceived innocence as he has contended that this was the result of consensual encounters with the woman.
There is also a 2nd allegation against Bauer which has never been charged, nor arrested for and that he has addressed as an attempt to extort money from him.
Some would contend that where there is smoke, there is fire, but this is not how the legal system in the United States works. More accurately, the verbiage states that the accused remains innocent until proven guilty. The court of public opinion seems to carry more weight in this situation though, and Bauer's career has shouldered the brunt of the fallout, at least in the eyes of the 30 individuals who represent MLB ownership.
Which leads us back to the original question of whether or not Trevor Bauer will ever find his way back to the Major Leagues?
Barring all of the bad behaviour, taunting, tantrums and bad press, Bauer is a top echelon starter who is a devout student of the game and whose talent is only over-matched by his confidence. At times he has shown the ability to dominate pro lineups in whichever league he happens to be pitching in. He is also intensely competitive and notably durable due to his odd, yet effective conditioning regiment. He is also emotional, to a detriment, as he has been considered distracting and divisive when it comes to clubhouse contributions noted throughout his career.
At the same time, he has seemingly matured somewhat through the adversity that has surrounded him during the arrhythmia of the up and down career path that he has travelled. Furthermore, it would also seem that he has humbled somewhat, which you can easily witness by following his social media feeds. He is not one to shy away from sharing his feelings about his trials and tribulations, as he has been quite vocal through his social media. He has also provided his own unique insights into the game he obviously loves, and has also shared intimate information about his craft which gets imparted almost like penance of his failure to his fans and followers.
Human beings make mistakes, some larger than others. Bauer has never professed to be perfect. Atonement is subjective and some would prefer to never hear or see from Bauer again. But in the world of professional sports, fans have a way of convicting those they do not understand, either for their words, or their actions. It is also an incredibly precarious world to be a part of, where guilt is easier to assign then it is to accept. At what point do we allow the second chances that we all feel we are owed, when we, as human beings, make our own mistakes or poor choices?
Perhaps it is finally time to give Trevor Bauer his last chance?
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 3 | 133 ANSWERS The case for Trevor Bauer to return to the Major Leagues Should Trevor Bauer get another chance to pitch in the MLB? | ||
| Yes | 92 | 69.2 % |
| No | 41 | 30.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
