Dodgers’ Bauer suspended 2 seasons over alleged sex assault

NEW YORK — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer was suspended Friday for 2 full seasons with out pay by Main League Baseball for violating the league’s home violence and sexual assault coverage, which he denies.

Bauer’s prolonged suspension comes after a San Diego girl, whom the pitcher had met by social media, alleged that Bauer beat and sexually abused her final yr. She later sought — however was denied — a restraining order. Los Angeles prosecutors stated in February there was inadequate proof to show the lady’s accusations past an affordable doubt.

Bauer repeatedly has stated that the whole lot that occurred between the 2 was consensual.

“Within the strongest doable phrases, I deny committing any violation of the league’s home violence and sexual assault coverage,” he stated Friday in an announcement. “I’m interesting this motion and count on to prevail. As we’ve got all through this course of, my representatives and I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.”

If the suspension is upheld, Bauer will lose about $60 million in wage.

Bauer earlier this week sued his accuser in federal courtroom, a transfer that got here lower than three months after prosecutors determined to not file legal costs in opposition to the pitcher. Bauer named the lady and one in all her attorneys, Niranjan Fred Thiagarajah, as defendants within the lawsuit. The Related Press doesn’t usually establish individuals who say they’ve been victims of sexual assault.

The lawsuit stated that “the harm to Mr. Bauer has been excessive” after the lady alleged that he had choked her into unconsciousness, punched her repeatedly and had anal intercourse together with her with out her consent throughout two sexual encounters final yr.

The pitcher has stated the 2 engaged in tough intercourse at his Pasadena residence at her suggestion and adopted pointers they agreed to prematurely. Every encounter ended with them joking and her spending the evening, he stated.

Bauer was positioned on administrative depart final July 2 beneath the joint home violence and sexual assault coverage of MLB and the gamers’ affiliation. The depart has been repeatedly prolonged and Bauer continued to be paid his $32 million wage whereas on depart. He stopped getting paid Friday.

MLB introduced the suspension in a brief assertion that didn’t present particulars of the findings of its investigation, including: “In accordance with the phrases of the Coverage, the Commissioner’s Workplace is not going to challenge any additional statements at this time limit.”

After profitable his first Cy Younger Award with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, Bauer agreed to a $102 million, three-year contract to hitch his hometown Dodgers. He didn’t pitch after June 29 and completed with an 8-2 file and a 2.59 ERA in 17 appearances. He was paid his $28 million wage final yr.

“The Dodgers group takes all allegations of this nature very significantly and doesn’t condone or excuse any acts of home violence or sexual assault,” the group’s assertion stated. “We’ve cooperated absolutely with MLB’s investigation because it started, and we absolutely help MLB’s Joint Home Violence, Sexual Assault, and Youngster Abuse Coverage, and the Commissioner’s enforcement of the Coverage. We perceive that Trevor has the proper to attraction the Commissioner’s choice. Subsequently, we is not going to remark additional till the method is full.”

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