Following the 2020 season being cut short due to COVID-19, the New York Mets believed they would be able to sign one of the top pitchers in the game in free agency.
Trevor Bauer, the National League Cy Young Award winner, entered the free agent market with an incredible ERA+ of 284 through 11 starts and an ERA of 1.73.
After Bauer’s own website featured a signed cap, fans of the Mets were positive he was signing with them.
Nevertheless, he eventually consented to a $102 million, three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Before being placed on administrative leave in 2021 to undergo an investigation after allegations of sexual assault, Bauer led Major League Baseball in innings pitched (107 2/3) and strikeouts (137). He had an 8-5 record and a 2.59 ERA in his first 17 starts with the Dodgers.
After being accused of sexual misconduct, the great pitcher was ultimately given a 324-game suspension for breaching MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy. Afterward, the penalty was lowered to 194 games.
Bauer traveled to Japan and threw for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars after being released in January 2023. In 130 2/3 innings pitched, he recorded a 10-4 record and 2.76 ERA.
Bauer resolved the lawsuit after he consistently refuted the accusations made against him.
The former Cy Young champion is now considering making a trip back to Major League Baseball, with New York being a top contender.
“I was happy to come play for the Mets last time I was a free agent. Obviously, I was very close to having made that decision … The Mets have a great thing going on … Playing in New York would be awesome. The fan bases here are crazy. I’d be more than open to it,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview.
Given all of the accusations leveled against him and the length of time he has been out of the game since tossing his final pitch in the MLB during the 2021 season, it seems doubtful that the Mets would be interested in one of their previous targets.
When they first wanted to sign him in free agency, they were worried about how he used social media.
Bauer believes he is still one of the best pitchers in the world, and he also believes he has a lot to offer and wants to be a positive impact in the clubhouse and community.
For the upcoming season, New York does not perceive itself as a competitor, so they may not think that this deal is optimal for the team.
However, the contentious pitcher has shown his interest in the Mets, so if they decide to go down this route, they have another alternative.