Mookie Betts, the renowned slugger from the Los Angeles Dodgers, expressed his hope that Major League teams would consider signing his former teammate, pitcher Trevor Bauer, during the upcoming winter season.
Speaking at the World Series in Phoenix, Betts shared his thoughts with the Los Angeles Times on Monday. Betts had been invited by Major League Baseball to attend Game 3 between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks, where he was providing content for the league’s cable channel and social media platforms.
Trevor Bauer’s journey has been marred by controversy. The Los Angeles Dodgers released him in January following an unprecedented 324-game suspension after he was found to have violated baseball’s policies on domestic violence and sexual assault. An independent arbitrator later reduced his suspension to 194 games.
Despite the circumstances surrounding Bauer, Betts expressed his support for his former teammate, saying, “My experience with Bauer is not anything remotely close to what everyone else’s experience is. I love him. I think he’s an awesome guy. The personal things? I have no control. I have no say. Obviously, nothing ever came from it.” Betts emphasized Bauer’s qualities as a pitcher and his commitment to the game.
Bauer, a recipient of the 2020 NL Cy Young Award, went unsigned by any other team following his release by the Dodgers. He subsequently played in Japan.
Recently, Bauer and a woman who had accused him of assault reached a settlement in their legal dispute. The woman alleged that Bauer had beaten and sexually assaulted her in 2021, which led to his administrative leave from MLB. Prosecutors chose not to file charges in February 2022. However, Bauer faces another accusation from an Arizona woman, who has filed a lawsuit alleging that he held a knife to her throat and choked her until she lost consciousness during an incident that left her pregnant in late 2020. Bauer has denied these allegations and countersued, accusing the woman of faking a pregnancy and attempting to extort money from him.
It is important to note that the Associated Press typically refrains from identifying individuals who claim to be victims of sexual assault.
