Dodgers Add Ex-Bruin: Trevor Bauer Is Coming Home!
In a move not even I was hoping for, the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers have signed reigning Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. What else is there to say but "wow". (Quick break as I check in on my Padres friends).
The best player in free agency has decided to come home and join the champs. The 30 year old Bauer joins the Dodgers on a 3 year, $102million deal (with opt outs after years 1 and 2). The Dodgers were competing with the Mets, who offered a higher total contract while Dodgers offered more upfront. The $40million average annual salary blows the previous record for a pitcher out of the water, which had been $36million per year by the Yankees' Gerrit Cole (Cole was a teammate of Bauer's at UCLA from 2009-2011, where they both pretty much dominated to everyone's annoyance. For those wondering, Mike Trout is the highest paid position player at $37million per year).
Fun Fact: Bauer will make more per year than the entire payroll of 3 teams next season : Pirates, Orioles, & Cleveland Baseball Team
As for the Dodgers, the 2021 rotation is beyond stacked! Buehler, Kershaw, Urias, Bauer, May, Price, Gonsolin, has anyone ever used the phrase "there's only one ball" in baseball? That list doesn't even include top pitching prospect, Josiah Gray, who was acquired from the Reds in the Puig/Kemp deal.
(Quick break, I just got a response from a Padres fan, let's see what he had to say)
Oh wow, so he went THERE: "Fuck that foo. He's a racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, trump supporting pos".
Well, on to the elephant in the room. Bauer has been far from a model citizen for some time now. Not one to back away from controversy, he makes sure to make his opinions known on all subjects, baseball or otherwise. Unfortunately, some of those opinions seem based in conspiracy theories while others are flat out discriminatory. There will be people very unhappy by this move and they will be 100% correct for feeling that way. Talent and money don't give anyone an excuse for being an asshole.
As a Dodgers fan, I'm proud of our eclectic fan base. Sports is the one medium where you're guaranteed to see people from all backgrounds, religions, classes, etc come together for a common interest. Los Angeles is a diverse city and the Dodgers pride themselves on diversity and opportunities for all. This is the franchise that went to the Dominican Republic to set up baseball camps where local players could get training from professionals, as well as getting an education outside of baseball. This is the franchise that went into Asia to find talented players like Hideo Nomo, Chan-Ho Park, Hyun Jin Ryu and embraced the cultures supporting these players. Not to mention all the work the Dodgers do in Mexico and Latin America in general.
Flat out, the Dodgers are the pioneers of diversity in sports, starting with Jackie Robinson. As excited as I am for the signing, there's no way we can ever go backwards and I hope Trevor's ready for an awakening. We hold our players accountable and no amount of wins will ever compromise morals.
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