One interesting part of the article is Bauer's statement that the Dodgers expressed interest in having him pitch for them in 2023. LAD denies.

There was a Bob Nightengale article containing the following unattributed information, "Dodger officials declined to go into details of their conversation, but privately revealed that they didn’t hear any remorse, apologies or anything in the slightest from Bauer to change their mind."

I get that LAD don't want Bauer on the team, but I suppose the private statement is just filler. What would Bauer have to say in order to get reinstated? If it were only slight, that would have changed their minds? "OK, it was a rape, you got me." Then, assuming a sufficiently detailed statement, the DA's office could prosecute Bauer, using the statement. At that point, he would be suspended again and LAD would be off the hook for his salary. So, maybe LAD were trying to get a statement of remorse from Bauer /s

What MLB franchise is the equivalent of the 70's Raiders?

Bauer's MLB return (if it happens) will prompt some interesting reactions. If he were shut out in MLB, perhaps he would go overseas if he still wanted to pitch.

What MLB franchise is the equivalent of the 70's Raiders?

I could see the Astros picking him up for the min really easily. I mean, their reputation is still about trash-can-banging. Maybe Bauer blurs the cheating #### away by being new bad PR and then they can cut bait if he's bad and look like good guys?

Somebody will sign him. Crane seems logical

What MLB franchise is the equivalent of the 70's Raiders?

i mean, the phillies started last season with odubel herrera and jeurys familia, so domestic violence is not a clear dealbreaker for them.

#1: While I agree I'm not sure I believe either side here nor that there's anything Bauer could really say to change their minds but ... I'd imagine they would at least want to hear him say he's no longer going to have sex with women he meets on the internet, that he's received counselling over his taste for violent sex, assure them this will never happen again, etc. He can acknowledge he's got a problem without admitting rape.

Every team in baseball has or has had a known spousal abuser at some point I suspect. I think Bauer is a different kettle of fish. What he’s accused of doing just generally seems worse than a lot and I think the bigger problem for a lot of teams will be his refusal and inability to either demonstrate the slightest bit of remorse or more generally shut the #### up. I wouldn’t be totally shocked to see someone take him because that kind of talent at the league of minimum is a hell of a thing. But I wouldn’t want to bet on it either.

A good example might be the Boston Bruins recent signing of a guy named Mitch Miller. He’s a first round talent hockey player who it was revealed did some pretty horrible things in terms of bullying and racism of a classmate. Miller has not shown a lot of remorse either. He was drafted by the Coyotes a couple years ago and then they renounced the pick after getting raked over the coals. Earlier this winter after Miller had spent a couple of years playing minor league hockey (unaffiliated) the Boston Bruins signed him. The reactions were brutal. Despite having the best record in hockey (a huge surprise) and really grabbing the Boston sports scene by the scruff of the neck the Bruins got absolutely DESTROYED. It took about 72 hours for them to pull an Emily Litella “never mind” on the signing.

Bauer gives you all the negatives of Miller with the “added bonus”of being really loud about it.

Bauer was also a known ####### that was hard to get along with for years before this incident was revealed.

6. The Miller story is a tragedy, quite sad for the victim of Mr. Miller's horrific conduct. Miller's a kid, still, 20-21; the frontal cortex isn't fully developed until 25 and kids can do some viciously cruel things (as Mr. Miller did; I don't use the word "apparently" b/c a court adjudicated Miller's matter). The lack of remorse in Miller's case is striking. There is no issue of consent in Miller's case. I think one would find a vastly greater percentage of condemnation of Miller's conduct than Bauer's, without comparing levels of odiousness. Miller's situation seems much more clear cut. The issue of consent exists in Bauer's case; certainly not in Miller's. Also, if the complainant in Bauer had the intellectual functioning level of Miller's victim, there's be no issue of consent with Bauer (who would be facing a lengthy prison term)

Add to that Bauer is an established star, while Miller is a prospect, it's riskier to deal with Miller b/c the upside is less certain.

Also, since Bauer's behavior became public, how loud has he been? For example, the statement released following his release by the Dodgers seemed quite appropriate. Has he made statements on social media? He does not seem to have taken the Curt Schilling route (since Bauer's behavior became publicized) of pronouncements.

Indeed, you may be right that Bauer is just not worth the headache. Still, for $750,000 + bad publicity from signing as a cost to get a #1 starter, quite a few teams must be thinking about that right now.

Well John Coppolella just got reinstated, so these things are hard to predict (apparently five years is a lifetime, who knew).