M.L.B. Puts Trevor Bauer on Leave Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

“Mr. Bauer will not appeal M.L.B.’s decision to place him on administrative leave at this time in an effort to minimize any distraction to the Dodgers organization and to his teammates,” the agents said in an emailed statement. “Of note, administrative leave is neither a disciplinary action nor does it in any way reflect a finding in the league’s investigation.”

Under the collectively bargained rules, the M.L.B. commissioner, Rob Manfred, can place a player accused of a violation on administrative leave, in which he is paid but not allowed to take part in games, and the move “shall not be considered disciplinary.” The commissioner can also defer placing a player on such leave until he is either charged with a crime or the commissioner’s office receives “credible information corroborating the allegations.”

At the end of the seven days, M.L.B. can request an extension from the players’ union.

On Tuesday, a woman filed a request in Los Angeles County Superior Court for a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Bauer. The request was granted. The police in Pasadena, Calif., confirmed on Tuesday that a woman had accused Bauer of assaulting her in the city on or around May 16, and that they had begun looking into the accusation soon after it was reported to them.

The woman’s lawyer, Marc H. Garelick, said his client had suffered “severe physical and emotional pain” from an assault by Bauer. Fetterolf has denied any wrongdoing by his client, saying Bauer and the accuser had a “brief and wholly consensual sexual” relationship that was initiated by the woman in April and consisted of two encounters. The agent said Bauer had messages from the woman asking that she be choked and slapped.

After learning of the allegations on Tuesday, M.L.B. also began looking into the matter. On Wednesday, details of the woman’s allegations were published in news reports.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/sports/baseball/trevor-bauer-dodgers-suspended-sexual-assault.html