Dodgers’ Trevor Bauer placed on administrative leave by MLB

Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer has been placed on a seven-day paid administrative leave by Major League Baseball, the league announced Friday.

A woman obtained a temporary ex parte domestic violence restraining order against Bauer in Los Angeles this week and has accused the right-hander of sexually assaulting her and giving her a concussion and suspected (but importantly not confirmed) basilar skull fracture. MLB is conducting an investigation into the allegations, so this move allows the league to proceed with an investigation without dealing with the public relations nightmare of having Bauer continue to pitch in the meantime. He’ll still continue to be paid while on leave.

The leave can be extended beyond seven days if agreed upon by the players’ union.

This news comes after the Commissioner’s Office and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts were widely criticized Thursday for not taking action following the allegations. Roberts stated that the Dodgers planned to start on Sunday against the Nationals, saying that any disciplinary action was out of the team’s hands.

Bauer, the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner, is in his first season with the Dodgers after signing a three-year, $102 million contract this offseason.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story stated that Trevor Bauer’s victim suffered a basilar skull fracture. Since publication, Bauer’s representation shared documents showing a fracture was suspected but not found during a CT scan. The story has been updated to reflect that.