*Photo from the Dayton Daily News*
In previous offseasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers were unable to lure star players Gerrit Cole and Bryce Harper to wear the Dodger Blue, but they remained patient, hoping to strike in the coming years. That just paid off big time. The Dodgers have signed RHP Trevor Bauer to a 3 year, $102 million contract, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Bauer and his agent have confirmed the contract via an announcement on Bauer's social media pages, and the Dodgers have confirmed it as well.
Bauer had a fantastic year leading the Cincinnati Reds rotation in 2020, posting a 5-4 record with an NL best 1.73 ERA, striking out 100 hitters in 73 innings pitched across 11 starts for the Reds in his only full season with the team. In Bauer's career, he has a 75-64 record with a 3.90 ERA, throwing 1,190 innings across 205 appearances, 195 of which were starts, in his 9 big league seasons.
Bauer will earn $40 million this season, which is higher than the current payrolls of the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles. That salary is certainly deserved, as Bauer had the best season of his career in 2020, and also being the best pitcher in the NL, as he won the 2020 NL Cy Young earlier in the offseason. Bauer also has one all star game appearance in 2018 under his belt.
Bauer said in his announcement that "Last season doesn't matter anymore. Come April, what matters is this team, this group of players, this group of fans, and the name across our chests. This season is about making sure history remembers us as we wish to be remembered. This season is about adding to our legacy. And I can't wait, Dodger fans."
Bauer's contract contains opt outs after the first and second years of his contract. If he doesn't opt out after this coming season, he will be payed $45 million by the Dodgers in 2022, in addition to the $40 million he is owed this season. This contract pushes the Dodgers way over the $210 million luxury tax threshold, with their payroll sitting at $240 million, which is set to be the highest in baseball.
The signing of Bauer gives the Dodgers the best chance to repeat as world series champs, and gives them 3 Cy Young winners in their rotation, as Bauer joins forces with Clayton Kershaw and David Price. Walker Buehler is also locked into the rotation, with Dustin May, Julio Urias, and Tony Gonsolin in the mix for the final rotation spot.
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