MLB suspends LA Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer for 2 years

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer escaped the wrath of the law but was suspended by Major League Baseball under the sport’s domestic violence policy.

The righty has been suspended for 324 games. After the ban was announced, Bauer said he plans to appeal and released a statement:

In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league’s domestic violence & sexual assault policy. I am appealing this action and expect to prevail. As we have throughout this process, my representatives & I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.

— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) April 29, 2022

The decision comes after MLB launched a probe in June 2021 after a woman accused Bauer of going too far during two sexual encounters in April and May 2021 … allegedly punching and choking her unconscious.

The league concluded he did, in fact, violate the league’s joint policy on domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

The Dodgers weighed in, too:

“Today, we were informed that MLB has concluded its investigation into allegations that have been made against Trevor Bauer, and the Commissioner has issued his decision regarding discipline. The Dodgers organization takes all allegations of this nature very seriously and does not condone or excuse any acts of domestic violence or sexual assault. We’ve cooperated fully with MLB’s investigation since it began, and we fully support MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy, and the Commissioner’s enforcement of the Policy. We understand that Trevor has the right to appeal the Commissioner’s decision. Therefore, we will not comment further until the process is complete.”

Per the LA Times:
Of the 16 players suspended under baseball’s sexual assault and domestic violence policy, Bauer is the first not to agree to a negotiated settlement. He could argue that he does not warrant any suspension because he did nothing wrong, and that commissioner Rob Manfred has suspended him for unconventional but consensual sex rather than for sexual assault.