Trevor Bauer’s appeal will unfortunately remain a distraction for Dodgers

Though the process was supposed to be over by the end of July, Trevor Bauer’s appeal to Major League Baseball’s 324-game suspension will now extend far longer than Los Angeles Dodgers fans were hoping.

In April, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred levied the biggest non-lifetime ban in MLB history upon Bauer for violating the league’s domestic violence policy after he was accused of sexual assault on multiple occasions by a San Diego woman.

It didn’t take long for Bauer to announce he’d appeal the league’s decision, which benefitted the Dodgers tremendously because they would be excused from paying Bauer the remaining $60 million on his contract under the terms of that suspension. They had already paid him for all of 2021 and the first month of 2022 while he was placed on administrative leave.

But now, on top of dealing with an unwanted off-field distraction, there’s a chance, should mounting evidence help Bauer’s case, that the Dodgers will be on the hook for his 2023 salary. Here’s what Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times wrote:

"“The appeal of Bauer’s suspension started May 23 and now is expected to last until November, Holley told the court. The appeal is heard intermittently, but Holley said she is ‘working full-time’ on proceedings that she said involve ‘voluminous’ evidence and could include as many as 22 witnesses, only four of whom have completed testimony before an independent arbitrator.”"

Trevor Bauer’s appeal case just won’t leave the Dodgers alone

The lawyer representing Bauer also represents actor Danny Masterson, who has been charged with three counts of rape and is awaiting trial. But now Bauer’s drawn-out case could actually delay Masterson’s due to the high-profile nature of the two.

Nonetheless, it seems as if the compiling of “evidence” will now further delay a decision from the court, which has been ongoing since May 23.

But there’s Trevor, living it up on social media and his YouTube channel … sawing frisbees in half? Great optics for the Dodgers while they’re roaring ahead as the best team in the league and marching toward a World Series berth.

Unfortunately, even if the Dodgers do make the Fall Classic, Bauer’s appeal case will be lurking in the background. Let’s just hope Twitter’s algorithm keeps him far from the spotlight, as it’s certainly been doing over the past year or so.

Jeff Passan’s surprising take on Trevor Bauer appeal could cost Dodgers

According to MLB insider Jeff Passan, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer could see his suspension reduced via appeal.