Trevor Bauer makes sense for the Red Sox?
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated Trevor Bauer for assignment on Friday night. The move will officially cut ties with the right-handed hurler who is coming off an unprecedented suspension following allegations of sexual assault.
With this move, the Dodgers will have until 2 p.m. on Thursday to trade Bauer. If they are unable to move him and his $22.5 million salary for 2023, he will be placed on unconditional release waivers. Providing Bauer clears those waivers, he will then become a free agent the following day.
If Bauer becomes a free agent, he will then play for the league minimum, $720,000 next season, while the Dodgers foot the bill for his 2023 salary.
What does Bauer’s release mean for the Boston Red Sox?
That question has been debated on social media the minute the Dodgers made the official announcement.
Bauer could help the Red Sox, the talented righty is a top of the rotation type pitcher when on the mound. A dialed-in and focused Bauer would help a Red Sox rotation that needs starting pitching with upside.
The last time Bauer pitched was in 2021, he posted a 2.59 ERA in his first 17 starts, pitching like an ace, before the assault allegations prompted his removal from the Dodgers roster.
Pairing Bauer up with a healthy Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello and James Paxton would be a formidable group for the 2023 season.
Unfortunately, Bauer’s talent is not enough to help land him with the Red Sox. The organization has a history of avoiding players with off the field problems.
Boston took a stance back in 2018 prior to the trade deadline by not acquiring then Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna to help their bullpen. The eventual World Series champions were in need of bullpen help. The talented Osuna could have helped Boston in their run in the postseason. Instead he was traded to the Houston Astros, who the Sox defeated in the ALCS.
Then president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski gave a brief statement as to why the organization passed on Osuna.
“I would not talk about another organization’s player, but I will say we did not pursue that situation,” said Dombrowski.
Then there was the situation where Red Sox released prospect Brett Netzer after he sent several racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic tweets. Netzer’s tweets attacked Black Americans, transgender people, and Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. Boston released Netzer in early 2022 almost immediately following his social media tirades.
Based off the two examples, Red Sox as an organization have a protocols in place about acquiring and existing players with alleged/questionable backgrounds. It seems unlikely that the Red Sox who are extremely image conscious would take a chance and bring in Bauer.
This past week, the Red Sox got some great PR after signing Rafael Devers to an 11-year, $331 million extension. The move was met with positivity after an offseason that has seen fan favorites leave for new teams.
Boston’s fan base has been incredibly critical of the organization even going as far to as booing owner John Henry outside Fenway Park at the Winter Classic.
Fans have already begun to weigh in on their stance with Bauer and him playing for the Red Sox. To be honest, it feels like a mixed bag on how people feel about Bauer.
The Red Sox haven't made a public comment on their intentions of pursuing Bauer. As of Friday night, no Red Sox beat reporter tweeted anything about the clubs interest in the veteran pitcher. Chaim Bloom will have to make a decision with his front office group, manager Alex Cora and the ownership group on whether Bauer is worth the upside.
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No, no, no, no and just to make sure, no. We went through this with Wil Cordero and then Carl Everett. No.