Stop the Trevor Bauer-Padres speech, anyway, now. It doesn’t happen. It was not about to happen. Paint him as a steadfast non-starter at Petco Park.
The Padres want to win a World Series, maybe as much as anyone in baseball. The organization and the main owner Peter Seider proved this in dollars and ink for the seasons and offseasons at the end.
The Padres need another starter. You can never have too much in this game, as October regularly reminds us. A parade-hunting window could close with free agency looming for Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, as well as a player option on the table in 2024 for Seth Lugo.
Grab a pitcher, by all means. Not that launcher, however.
There’s no doubt that Bauer looks tempting, on paper. He’s a Cy Young winner who led baseball in ERA+ and the fewest hits allowed per nine innings in pandemic-shortened 2020. 24 career wins above replacement among active pitchers.
And none of that matters…or at least it shouldn’t. That’s not the case for the Padres, according to a senior source with direct knowledge of the situation who confirmed the team won’t be suing Bauer.
Character comes through most clearly and truly when the decisions are toughest and there’s the most at stake. Bauer could absolutely change the trajectory of the NL West for the Padres and Dodgers, who have recently sent the elite arm packing after his suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s policy on domestic violence and sexual assault.
Bauer denied all allegations and appealed his suspension.
However, read the Dodgers’ statement when they announced Bauer’s release: They pointed out that while the 324-game suspension was reduced to 194 on appeal, investigations by commissioner Rob Manfred’s office and an umpire ” concluded that Mr. Bauer’s actions justified the longest active player suspension ever in our sport for violating this policy. »
Yes, Bauer has not been charged. There’s no doubt about the message behind the Dodgers’ statement, however, regarding situations apparently involving at least three women. There is too much smoke. There are too many credible reasons for a fire.
If the Padres offered a landing spot for Bauer, competitive delights would have been added. The pitcher could easily have been the tipping point in terms of putting the Dodgers back in the rearview mirror, with the rivals paying $22.5 million in freight.
However, you wouldn’t just host a pitcher. You’re preparing for an entertaining and relentless circus of epic proportions, especially when playing Dodgers. Baseball would take a back seat.
Bauer might like the opportunity to shut down the team that strayed from him. The Padres, however, adopt the “best in class” organizational model. They talk about it all the time. They line up behind.
You can’t claim that if you’re not ready to live it.
Bringing in Bauer wouldn’t just mean the Padres trying to win, but screaming that they’re trying to win at all costs — no matter the ethical shrapnel. Do the Padres really want to give the Dodgers the best morale? You can hear it now: “We didn’t get our hands dirty. We did it the right way. The Padres? Good…”
The woman at the center of the allegations is from San Diego, the Padres’ own backyard. Whatever you believe or wherever you are on Bauer, handing him a uniform would be interpreted by many as de facto victim blaming or outright dismissal.
There are plenty of fans — in San Diego and Los Angeles — who want Bauer in uniform, regardless of the ugly details and PR fallout. There are also many who understand the bigger picture amid the squalor.
As one fan tweeted, “I would cancel my subscriptions if the Padres signed Bauer.” Another: “I’d rather lose without Bauer than win with him.”
Some in the Padres clubhouse might welcome Bauer if forced upon them, but many would not in private. The current band has built the best vibe and glue since, well, it’s hard to know when. Throwing a grenade in the middle of it is a real risk.
The Padres will save their players from this. Action speaks louder than words. In this case, inaction speaks volumes.
There is too much baggage and too many worrying and unanswered questions. Adding talent for talent’s sake, despite the alarming and awkward toppings, would dilute and damage the innings-rolling work it took to build the current roster.
The Padres will decide to make this offseason the addition of star shortstop Xander Bogaertswithout throwing NLCS progress into a blender chasing Bauer.
Win the World Series with Manny Machado, the guy who plays and plays and plays, thanks to a bruised technicolor ankle. Win with Joe Musgrove, the hometown gem with integrity oozing from every pore. Win thanks to the guts of Jake Cronenworth and the super talent of Juan Soto.
Don’t try to win with Bauer.
Good advice to the Padres for figuring this out from the start.
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