Dodgers: 3 players who definitely won’t be back in 2022

2. Trevor Bauer

Trevor Bauer has returned to social media, but you can bet that’ll be the greatest extent to which you hear or see from the pitcher again. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan talked to over 20 executives and players, both current and former, all of whom indicated we’ll never see Bauer play in Major League Baseball ever again.

The Dodgers played their part too in doing away with Bauer, even though they hesitated in keeping him off the field when the heinous sexual assault allegations broke back in late June. Shortly after that, he was placed on administrative leave, had all of his merchandise pulled from the Dodgers’ official team stores, and was removed from the team’s promotional calendar six weeks before he was supposed to have his bobblehead night.

The organization made it a point to swiftly erase Bauer during the 2021 season to keep the distractions at a minimum and it’s safe to say they succeeded. Bauer was a mere footnote on the Dodgers’ year as a whole, which is insane because all of this happened just three months ago. It feels like it’s been over a year.

Once we learn more about the findings of the Pasadena Police Department’s investigation, it’s possible the Dodgers may be able to terminate Bauer’s contract and fully be rid of him once and for all. If not, however, we’re sure the organization will eat his salary for the next couple years and be totally content with him never stepping foot on the field again … because that would be a PR disaster. Did you not see how much of a disaster it was when the team was considering pitching him on July 4 against the Nationals a few days after the allegations came to light?

Bauer was accused of sexual assault by a second woman who stepped forward a few months ago, which allegedly occurred in Ohio during his 2020 season with the Cincinnati Reds. At best, Bauer will be on the 2022 payroll due to some nonsense technicalities that don’t allow the team to void his contract.

But he will not be pitching or coming anywhere near the Dodgers in 2022.