NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s independent arbitrator reinstated Trevor Bauer on Thursday, allowing the pitcher to resume his career when the 2023 season begins.
On April 29, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher was suspended for an unprecedented two seasons by Commissioner Rob Manfred for violating the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy after a San Diego woman accused Ball of Assaulted and sexually abused her last year, a charge the pitcher denied. The Players Association filed the complaint on Ball’s behalf, and a three-person panel led by independent arbitrator Martin Scheinman began hearing the case on May 23. MLB said Scheinman supported the 194-game suspension but immediately reinstated Ball. As a result, Ball would lose his salary for the final 144 games of last season and the first 50 games of next season, until May 23, if not extended. The Dodgers will have to decide whether to keep Ball. If they cut him, they’ll be responsible for the remainder of his salary. The MLB said in a statement: “While we believe a longer suspension is warranted, MLB will abide by the decision of a neutral arbitrator, which upholds baseball history. The decision to suspend an active player for sexual assault or domestic violence has been the longest in history.” “We understand this process can be difficult for relevant witnesses and we appreciate their participation.”
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The 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner initially His suspension covered 324 unpaid games, and if the suspension continues, he will lose more than $60 million from a three-year, $102 million contract that began last year. Ball’s plaintiff sought but was denied a restraining order against him. Los Angeles prosecutors said in February that there was not enough evidence to prove the woman’s charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Ball, who has not played since the allegations surfaced and MLB began its investigation, has repeatedly said that everything that happened between him and the woman was consensual. Ball was placed on administrative leave on July 2, 2021, which was extended 13 times under the Domestic Violence Policy. Of the 15 players previously disciplined under the policy, the longest suspension was free agent pitcher Sam Dyson’s entire 2021 season and playoffs. None of the players previously disciplined under the policy appeared to contest the punishment before an arbitrator. Ball indicted his accuser in federal court, a move that came less than three months after prosecutors decided not to bring criminal charges against the pitcher. Ball named the woman and one of her attorneys, Niranjan Fred Thiagarajah, as defendants in the lawsuit. The AP typically does not identify people who claim to be victims of sexual assault. After the woman claimed that Ball suffocated her, repeatedly beat her and had anal sex with her without her consent during two sexual encounters last year, “to Mr. The injury was extremely serious.” Pitcher said the two had rough sex at his Pasadena home at her suggestion and followed guidelines they agreed to in advance. Ball has said in a past statement sent through his representatives that he had a “casual and fully consensual sexual relationship with the woman from 2013 to 2018” during the It started when the Triple-A team in Columbus pitched. “None of our meetings involved any involuntary, let alone illegal, conduct,” Ball said. “In fact, she taught me to choke, both in our relationship, Or a consensual act in a sexual act. The events she detailed to The Washington Post — especially the one involving involuntary suffocation — where she claimed to convulse and wake up on the hotel floor — were absolutely never Any identity happened.” After winning his first Cy Young with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, Ball agreed to join his hometown Dodgers. He hasn’t pitched since June 29, 2021, and is 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 17 starts. He took home a $28 million salary last year.
