Trevor Bauer reportedly exploring way to fight leave, return to Dodgers

Though the Los Angeles Dodgers likely never thought the discussion would reach this point, right-hander Trevor Bauer is reportedly looking into the possibility of expediting his own return.

If successful, Bauer could be an active major-leaguer as soon as Sunday, even though his administrative leave has theoretically already been extended by MLB and MLBPA through April 22.

According to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times’ sources, Bauer has reportedly grown frustrated enough with the issue of his eligibility being kicked down the line that he exploring whether his ongoing leave is a binding agreement after all.

While spokesmen for both the league and players’ union declined to comment for Shaikin’s article, it’s clear MLB has long believed this agreement to be binding, and has operated under that assumption.

Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer could return Sunday, fight extended leave?

In essence, what Bauer has done by exploring this possibility is place a potential hard deadline on any disciplinary action Commissioner Rob Manfred plans to levy based on the allegations raised last summer.

Bauer has not pitched since last June 28 against the San Francisco Giants. Allegations of sexual assault were levied against the starter following that outing, and though the Dodgers initially dawdled on removing him from their active roster for a series in Washington, DC, the team eventually relented.

At that point, Bauer’s connection to the Dodgers, from merchandise to roster projections, was largely severed, although he has at no point faced any official discipline from Major League Baseball. The league’s investigation encompasses last summer’s report (for which Bauer will not face charges in a court of law), as well as another Ohio woman’s allegations that surfaced in August of last year.

For nearly a year now, Manfred has sworn Bauer will be subject to further punishment, regardless of the determination (or lack thereof) of a court of law. Instead of expressing details of that punishment or investigation, he’s instead continued to re-press the pause button every few weeks, leaving the Dodgers in limbo.

Who knows if Bauer’s team will be able to unearth something to strike the contract dead? Theoretically, one would’ve assumed they’d already exhausted all options around the time Bauer chose to opt into his 2022 contract.

While it seemed he’d become persona non grata in Los Angeles’ locker room last summer, a last-minute reversal could see him suddenly re-inserted into the chemistry mix — or, it could bring about Manfred’s hammer once and for all.

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