Trevor Bauer signs with Japan’s Yokohama BayStars Keibert Ruiz $50M deal with Nationals could be worth $76M over 10 years

TOKYO – Trevor Bauer signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the Japan Central League.

2020 NL Cy Young Award winner was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 12, three weeks after a referee reduced his suspension imposed by baseball commissioner Rob Manfred from 324 games to 194 games. The punishment followed an investigation into domestic violence, which the pitcher denied.

“Playing in the NPB has always been my dream and I can’t imagine a better organization to do so,” Bauer said in a statement Monday, referring to Nippon Professional Baseball.

The BayStars have stated that Bauer will wear the No. 96 uniform.

“To all BayStar fans: I’m thrilled to be able to be part of the great team we have this year and try to win a championship,” Bauer said. “And to all the Japanese baseball fans, I can’t wait to see you guys in the stadium soon. Please come say hello and help me learn more about your great country. See you guys soon!”

Bauer is owed about $22.5 million from the remainder of his three-year, $102 million contract with the Dodgers. The suspension cost him approximately $37.6 million in salary.

Manfred suspended Bauer last April for violating the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy after a San Diego woman alleges he beat and sexually assaulted her in 2021. Bauer claimed he did nothing wrong, saying that everything that happened between him and the woman was agreed upon.

Bauer has never been charged with a crime.

The Players Association filed a complaint on Bauer’s behalf, and a three-member panel led by Martin Scheinman ruled on December 22 that Bauer violated MLB policy and cut his pay for the first 50 games of 2023, covering part of the period the pitcher was on paid leave in 2021 and 22 years.

Bauer joined his hometown Dodgers ahead of the 2021 season and went 8–5 with a 2.59 ERA in 17 starts before being sent on leave.

In February 2022, Los Angeles prosecutors decided not to charge Bauer with allegedly beating and sexually assaulting a San Diego woman, as they said they could not prove her allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

The woman, aged 27 at the time, said Bauer choked her unconscious, punched her repeatedly, and raped her during two sexual encounters.

The Associated Press does not usually identify people who say they have been victims of sexual assault.

Bauer said in a video posted to YouTube following the prosecutor’s decision that he and the woman engaged in rough sex at her suggestion and followed pre-agreed rules. According to him, each meeting ended with her spending the night at his house in Pasadena.

“The three disturbing acts and behaviors that she described just didn’t happen,” he said at the time.

The woman requested a restraining order, but the judge denied it. The judge found that Bauer respected the woman’s boundaries when the woman set them, and could not have been aware of those he violated because she did not express them clearly.

Bauer was an All-Star in 2018 and is 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA in 10 seasons with Arizona (2012), Cleveland (2013-19), Cincinnati (2019-20) and the Dodgers. He won the NL Cy Young Award with Cincinnati during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

“I’m so excited and I think the worldwide reaction is going to be amazing,” said BayStars manager Daisuke Miura. “I believe a very strong pitcher will come along and improve our chances of winning the championship.”

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Kutcher Cabert Ruiz receives a $3 million signing bonus as part of his eight-year, $50 million contract with the Washington Nationals, a deal that could be worth $76 million over 10 seasons if the team takes a couple of options.

The 24-year-old will receive $1 million this year and $6 million next year as part of his contract. He receives $5 million a year from 2025 to 2027, $7 million in 2029, and $9 million in 2029 and 2030.

Washington’s options are $12 million in 2031 and $14 million in 2032 without a buyout.

Ruiz was among four players traded to Washington in July 2021 by the Dodgers for a pitcher. Max Scherzer and short stop Three Turner. Ruiz hit .251 last year with seven homers and 36 RBIs.

He played in pieces for three seasons and would likely be eligible for arbitration after the 2024 season.