Trevor Bauer will pitch vs. Dodgers minor leaguers on pay-to-play travel team

A year after being released by the Dodgers, Trevor Bauer is scheduled to pitch Sunday against minor-leaguers from the Los Angeles organization, playing for a traveling club from Japan.

Bauer will pitch for the Asian Breeze, a team that plays scrimmages against squads of minor-leaguers. The game will take place on the back fields at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers' spring training home.

“Trevor Bauer will be making his Asian Breeze debut on March 10th against the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization,” the club said in a release on its website Thursday.

Asian Breeze charges players about $2,500 to join a 20-day tour.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers were surprised by the news that he would be on the team but don't plan to interfere with Bauer's planned participation.

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Bauer was released by the Dodgers in January 2023 following the completion of his suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy.

He had been placed on administrative leave before being suspended for 324 games. Bauer appealed the suspension, leading to a hearing before a private arbitrator who reduced it to 194 games, still the largest ever under the league’s domestic violence policy.

No MLB team was interested in signing Bauer, who went to Japan to pitch for the Yokohama Baystars. He posted a 11-4 record and 2.59 ERA in 24 appearances overseas.

In recent months, Bauer has gone on something of a publicity tour to express his desire to return to the majors.

Contributing: Brent Schrotenboer