Controversial Former Cy Young Trevor Bauer to Face New York Yankees in Spring Training
Embattled former MLB pitcher Trevor Bauer has joined the Diablos Rojos del Mexico and will face off against the New York Yankees on March 24, he announced on social media Monday.
Bauer is fresh off a brief stint with a Japanese travel team, Asian Breeze. The 33-year-old right-hander pitched against the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league squad on March 10, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings that afternoon in Arizona.
That was a one-off, though, and Bauer has now found a steadier position with the Diablos as he continues to pursue an MLB comeback. He has agreed to pitch five games for the team between April 11 and May 8, serving as a pseudo Spring Training in case a big league team comes calling with an offer.
Here is Bauer's full statement on his latest career move:
"I’ll be pitching against the @Yankees on March 24 as a member of the @diablosrojosmx. I’ve also agreed to pitch 5 games for the Diablos between April 11 and May 8 in lieu of a traditional spring training period as it’s the best way for me to stay ready to pitch. This will help me stay in game shape and I’ll be able to join a rotation immediately if or when an MLB offer comes. Hope to see you on Sunday and can’t wait to show y’all what Mexican baseball is all about!"
Bauer hasn't gone against MLB competition since 2021, when he was accused of sexual assault. He was placed on leave for the remainder of the season and eventually suspended for all of 2022.
Even after his suspension was shortened and lifted at the start of 2023, the Dodgers released Bauer as he was entering the final season of his three-year, $102 million contract. He wound up signing with the Yokohama DeNa BayStars of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
One of Bauer’s several cases was settled in the fall with no money changing hands, which spurred the righty to officially pursue a comeback in MLB. As of early February, however, Bauer had not earned a contract offer from any of the league's 30 clubs.
Across his 10 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, Bauer went 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA, 1.243 WHIP, 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings and a 21.1 WAR.
Bauer was peaking right before he was exiled by the league, going 36-28 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.095 WHIP, 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a 13.5 WAR from 2018 to 2021. He won the NL Cy Young with the Reds in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, two years after finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting as a member of the Indians.
During his time in Japan, Bauer went 11-4 with a 2.59 ERA, 1.130 WHIP and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Bauer will add another stamp to his passport when he goes back to Mexico City with the Diablos, unless his showdown against the Yankees drums up serious and immediate MLB interest.
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