Trevor Bauer joined BT and Sal in studio on Friday to discuss his quest to return to Major League Baseball after settling his legal dispute with a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021.
Bauer, on a quest to rehabilitate his image, was never charged or arrested, and maintains his innocence of the allegations made against him by multiple women, says he has taken steps in his life to ensure he is never put in such a spot again.
“It’s been a hard two and a half years,” Bauer said. “Professionally of course, but personally as well. I never sexually assaulted anyone. Never have, never will. I’m not that kind of person. I made a lot of mistakes in my life in general that led me to being in a position where something like this can happen…but in those two and a half years, I’ve had a lot of time to think.
“Number one, my interactions with the women. I agreed to do things I shouldn’t have done. I met people and welcomed them into my life with no real scrutiny. I’m very detail-oriented when it comes to baseball and training, but I didn’t apply that to my personal life. I was reckless, and I ended up hurting a lot of people around me, my teammates, the Dodger organization, friends family, and Major League Baseball, by not being careful in what I was doing in my personal life. I made a lot of changes to address that. I’m not having casual sexual relationships anymore, I’m keeping my circle very tight. I’m not willing to agree to do those kind of sexual acts anymore, even if someone asks me to do those things.
“The second category is my reaction to the media and my relationships with the media as a whole…I think in general I’ve had a contentious relationship with the media for a long time…I look back at a lot of things I said. Very jerk-ish.”
Bauer, having served his 194-game suspension, is looking to get back in the majors, and asked what he would say to fans worried about their daughters or loved ones rooting for Bauer should he sign with their favorite team, Bauer said he hoped those fathers would mention the value of second chances
“I would hope there is some sort of conversation about learning all of the facts of a matter before jumping to conclusions,” Bauer said. “This isn’t something I’m doing just because I’m trying to get a job…this is something I have changed in my life. I want to be seen as a positive influence, not a negative one. I’m committed to that. That’s how I’m gonna live the rest of my life. I certainly hope people will believe me.”