Former MLB star Trevor Bauer threw a no-hitter in his U.S. return, but the blackballed pitcher says teams still won’t sign him for free

Trevor Bauer has officially returned to American baseball, but the former Cy Young Award winner says he is still effectively blackballed from the major leagues. According to Daily Mail, despite throwing a seven-inning no-hitter for the Long Island Ducks, the 35-year-old pitcher remains without a spot on an MLB roster.

It’s a frustrating situation for a player who has spent years trying to clear a path back to the big leagues. Bauer has not pitched in the MLB since 2021, a period marked by allegations of sexual assault against him. While he has always denied these claims and even saw the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office decide against filing criminal charges in 2022, the stigma has clearly lingered.

The legal battles continued into 2023, when Bauer and his initial accuser settled their dueling lawsuits without an exchange of money or any admission of wrongdoing. Three other women have also brought forward allegations of sexual assault, though one of those cases involved the accuser being charged with defrauding the pitcher.

Pitching for free still isn’t getting Bauer back in the MLB

Bauer recently opened up about his career struggles during an appearance on OutKick’s Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich. He expressed confusion regarding the lack of interest from teams, especially considering the lengths he has gone to prove his commitment. He told the show, “I don’t know exactly what goes on behind the scenes. I have my suspicions, of course.”

The pitcher claims he has reached out to numerous franchises in hopes of securing a deal. He described a recurring pattern where initial conversations seem promising, only to fall apart shortly after. “All I know is what the pattern is that we see. I can’t tell you how many different teams we’ve talked to,” Bauer said. He noted that he often receives assurances that a deal is moving forward, but it rarely sticks.

“Nothing happens for two or three days and we get a call back saying: ‘Hey, we can’t really talk about this, but sorry, it’s not going to work out’. People can think what they want to think about it but the ultimate reality is, I still, I don’t have a job.” To combat the hesitation from front offices, Bauer has made some pretty extreme offers. He has told teams he is willing to play for free, head down to the minor leagues, or even donate his entire salary to a team’s foundation.

It’s a desperate bid to get back on the mound in the majors, but it hasn’t yielded results. “I haven’t been allowed to play baseball in the MLB again. I’ve offered to play for free, I’ve offered to go to the minor leagues, I’ve offered to literally donate my entire salary back to the team’s foundations and to play literally for zero dollars,” he explained.

Before his stint with the Long Island Ducks, Bauer spent time playing in Japan and Mexico to keep his skills sharp. This professional shunning highlights how leagues distance themselves from players with baggage, much like Sherrone Moore, who was fired after an inappropriate relationship and later faced legal trouble. He hoped that these international performances, combined with his recent success on the field in the U.S., would force teams to reconsider their stance.

Instead, he feels his efforts are being ignored. “It just doesn’t feel like anything that I do is going to be sufficient. No matter how well I pitch or what I say or don’t say or whatever,” he said. The Long Island Ducks seem happy to have him, at least for now. Ducks president and chief business officer Michael Pfaff stated, “We are excited to welcome Trevor to Long Island.”

He added, “His talent and knowledge will be important additions to our ballclub, and we are happy to offer him this opportunity to showcase his talents to MLB clubs while giving fans unprecedented access to Ducks baseball.”