Trevor Bauer’s attempt to avoid MLB suspension could actually hurt him

Though the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office announced on Feb. 8 that current Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer would not be facing criminal sexual assault charges, that doesn’t mean his case is close to being over.

Major League Baseball’s investigation is still pending, and that may result in a suspension because the league can operate independently from law enforcement and the courts. Additionally, Bauer’s accuser(s) can still file a civil suit against him.

On top of those two scenarios, it appears Bauer and his representation, looking to get ahead of all of this, might be shooting themselves in the foot. Then again, it doesn’t change their all-in approach since this began.

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times laid it all out for us over the weekend and further proved that this legal battle is far from its conclusion.

Trevor Bauer’s legal situation is a headache for the Dodgers.

Shaikin revealed that Bauer and his representation “served a subpoena on the Pasadena Police Department seeking all of the woman’s cellphone records,” which prompted a response from the woman’s attorney’s asking that it be thrown out.

Even the Pasadena Police Department requested Bauer’s attorney’s withdraw the subpoena as to not dissuade future victims of sexual assault from reporting abuse.

In response, Bauer’s accuser “has asked a court to assess $10,000 in sanctions against him and his lawyers for pursuing legal action her attorney claimed ‘suggests that Mr. Bauer is indeed looking for a way to continue harassing and disturbing’ the woman.”

But Bauer’s attorneys doubled down, referencing the judge who lifted the woman’s restraining order against Bauer, again claiming that the accuser made “materially misleading” comments, adding, “There is no public interest in shielding those who make materially misleading complaints from disclosure of information that exculpates the alleged perpetrator.”

Bauer, who just signed a $103 million contract last offseason, is also apparently hell bent on making the accuser pay for all of his legal fees, claiming the accuser has deleted and hid information suggesting an “improper motive” to “gain publicity and harm Bauer’s career.”

Bauer’s attempt to secure the phone records is one to help MLB arrive at the decision that his situation doesn’t warrant a suspension, but the fact it’s being recommended against by the Pasadena Police Department and has warranted an offensive in the courts by his accuser, it’s safe to assume that he might be marring himself in excess legal fodder that could delay a decision on his career.

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Everyone's been calling for the Los Angeles Dodgers to release Trevor Bauer, but the reality is that they have to wait on MLB's decision.