While preparing to defend their first World Series title in 32 years, the Dodgers made a big impact on Friday by agreeing to a deal with National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer, who published a Youtube video with the news.
After posting a 1.73 league leader ERA in 11 games with the Cincinnati Reds in the 2020 60-game season, Bauer joins a loaded Dodgers rotation that is already returning his top entrants from the World Series champion team. last year, consolidating the club’s place as MLB favorites less than two months from the opening day.
“This season is to add to our legacy, and I can’t wait for Dodgers fans,” said Bauer in the YouTube video, which ended with a picture of him wearing a white Dodgers uniform.
Widely considered the best free agent pitcher available this season, Bauer reportedly limited his decision to the Dodgers and the New York Mets. On Thursday, his agent, Rachel Luba, tweeted “Down to 2” in apparent reference to Bauer’s selection process. The Mets reportedly gave Bauer Friday at noon ET to make a decision, and at noon PT he decided: about the Dodgers.
Before Friday, the Dodgers were quiet this winter. Several role players, including Joc Pederson, Kiké Hernández, Alex Wood and Pedro Báez, signed another contract and third baseman Justin Turner remains available as a free agent. And in addition to bullpen adjustments – including the acquisitions of Corey Knebel and Tommy Kahnle, as well as the rehiring of Blake Treinen – the list has remained largely unchanged.
Adding Bauer, however, can be a successful move. In nine MLB seasons, the 30-year-old is 75-64 with an ERA of 3.90, while an average of 9.7 eliminations per nine entries. It has one of the most electric arsenals in the game, producing elite-level rotation rates with its fast-sliding-ball-curved-cutter mix.
A Southern California native who studied at Hart High School in Santa Clarita and played collegially at UCLA, Bauer was chosen third overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011 and made his MLB debut a year later, before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in December 2012.
Beginning with the 2014 season, he made at least 26 matches each year before last summer’s shortened pandemic campaign.
His only All-Star selection came in 2018, helping Cleveland to a third consecutive AL Central title by 12-6 with an ERA of 2.21. After being negotiated with the Reds in July 2019, he helped the club achieve its first playoff appearance in seven years last season.
A free agent for the first time this winter, Bauer has attracted several would-be suitors. Throughout the process, he used his Twitter feed to suggest potential landing sites, such as Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Angels and Padres. But all along, the Dodgers were believed to be strong candidates, especially if he was willing to make a short-term deal.
Earlier this week, Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler publicly endorsed the idea of signing with Bauer during a radio interview on the AM 570 KLAC.
Trevor Bauer represents Newhall Hart in May 2008.
(Austin Knoblauch / Los Angeles Times)
“It’s hard to say that we wouldn’t want that guy around,” said Buehler. “He had an incredible year last year. I hope he finds his way to some blue. “
Bauer has his detractors. He was never known as the most cooperative teammate. His active – and sometimes conflicting – use of social media has come under criticism. And his blunt personality attracted many people around the game.
But his production has steadily improved throughout his career. Since 2018, he ranks sixth among MLB pitchers qualified in the Fangraphs version of wins over substitution (11.6), ninth in the opponent’s batting average (0.209) and 11th in ERA (3.18).
TREVOR BAUER
YEAR TEAM W / L ERA IP HA K
2012 Arizona 1-2 6.06 16.1 14 17
2013 Cleveland 1-2 5.29 17 15 11
2014 Cleveland 5-8 4.18 153 151 143
2015 Cleveland 11-12 4.55 176 152 170
2016 Cleveland 12-8 4.26 190 179 168
2017 Cleveland 17-9 4.19 176.1 181 196
2018 Cleveland 12-6 2.21 175.1 134 221
2019 Clev / Cin 11-13 4.48 213 184 253
2020 Cincinnati 5-4 1.73 73 41 100