Dodgers: Andrew Friedman’s comments on Trevor Bauer tell you all you need to know

Whatever you seem to think, Trevor Bauer will not be pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, or anywhere in Major League Baseball, in 2022 (and likely beyond that).

It’s just not going to happen, even if he’s found not guilty of the sexual assault allegations. ESPN insider Jeff Passan polled ~24 current and former baseball executives, players, lawyers and others with a connection to the sport a few months ago and all of the subjects, when asked if Bauer would ever play in MLB again, had different variations of the word “no.”

Just look at how the whole situation escalated. First, Bauer was accused in late June. Then the Dodgers said it was “out of their hands” and still planned on pitching him on July 4. A day later, he was placed on administrative leave. Not long after, the Dodgers had canceled his bobblehead night scheduled for mid-August. All of Bauer’s apparel was removed from team stores.

For the remainder of the year, his stay on administrative lead continued to be renewed and he never pitched another inning.

On Wednesday, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was asked about Bauer’s situation as it pertains to the investigation, whether he’ll pitch for the Dodgers again, and if Friedman regrets signing the former Cy Young winner.

Naturally, Friedman offered nothing of substance, which tells you all you need to know.

Dodgers president Andrew Friedman’s comments on Trevor Bauer.

It’s now been four months since the inception of this unfortunate and jarring situation. The Dodgers have no more insight at this point than they did on Day 1. You don’t think that speaks volumes about Bauer’s fate?

The team preemptively acted in a sense when he was exiled and erased from the organization, and you mean to tell us that a) the Dodgers don’t have any update as to what’s going on and b) there’s no sense of frustration considering they out-bid the laughingstock Mets for an internet troll to pay him an MLB-record salary when that money could’ve been invested in so many other ways to improve the 2021 Dodgers, who were bounced in six games in the NLCS against the Braves?

To an extent, it’s understandable why Friedman is playing this one by the book, but his lack of expansion on the topic makes it seem like we’re just waiting for the inevitable ruling from MLB so we can be done with this and never see Bauer again.

Bauer seems to be pulling out all the stops to save face, too. He’s trying to make his accuser pay all his attorney fees, despite another accuser coming out to reveal similar allegations from 2020. His “return” to social media? Cringeworthy and embarrassing.

The Dodgers likely know the answer to the question, “Will Trevor Bauer pitch for LA again?” but they probably can’t say anything prematurely with an impending contract battle coming in the offseason, seeing that they’ll likely try to void his $40 million salary.

Bauer will not pitch for the Dodgers. The Dodgers regret signing Bauer. The delayed legal proceedings are just preventing the team from revealing their hand.

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