The Los Angeles Dodgers had hoped they had the missing piece to their rotation in Trevor Bauer.
Instead, he turned out to be an expensive mistake. Due to his 194 game suspension and being designated for assignment now that he has been reinstated, the Dodgers will have received a grand total of 17 appearances over the three year, $102 million contract he had signed.
Los Angeles Dodgers have regrets with Trevor Bauer contract
The Dodgers are not going to pay out that full $102 million. Due to his suspension, that price tag was lowered to approximately $61 million over the course of that contract. Or, to look at it another way, the Dodgers paid Bauer approximately $3.6 million per appearance. And they are going to pay him another $22.5 million this season, with the only possible relief coming if he signs with another organization.
Bauer did perform well when he was on the mound. He posted a 2.59 ERA and a 1.003 WHiP over his 107.2 innings, striking out 137 batters with 37 walks. He had been everything that the Dodgers had hoped for in their rotation, proving that he was that missing piece as they looked to add another championship.
But that was not enough for the Dodgers to want to deal with the baggage attached. Bauer may not have been charged with a crime, but the details of what happened to cause his suspension under the domestic violence policy are truly nauseating. He does have his supporters on social media, but the negativity surrounding his presence on the roster was not worth bringing him back.
Some team may ultimately decide to take a gamble on Bauer. There is no question that he has the talent to transform a rotation and could propel a team into the postseason. But that team will not be the Dodgers.
Trevor Bauer’s time with the Los Angeles Dodgers will go down as one of the biggest disasters in franchise history. His contract may be the worst ever handed out.