In the end, the Major League door did not open, winning the Cy Young Award, Bauer returned to Yokohama after a year, and lost 10 games in the Mexican League last year

Jan 27, 2025

Bauer, a right-hander who returns to Yokohama after a year. Bauer won 10 games in 19 appearances for Yokohama in 2023. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

Bauer injured while catching a ground ball against Hanshin on August 30, 2023. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

In the end, he gives up his dream of returning to the Major League and wears the Yokohama BayStars uniform again. Right-hander Trevor Bauer (34), winner of the U.S. Major League Cy Young Award, will return to Japan. It is his first return in a year since leaving Yokohama in 2023. Yokohama, which aims to win the Central League and win its second consecutive Japan Series this season, has gained strength.

Japanese sports magazine Nikkan Sports reported on the 26th that Yokohama will officially announce its contract with Bauer soon. The efforts of the Yokohama club, which has been pushing for Bauer's return, have finally paid off.

Bauer has made all-out efforts to return to the major leagues over the past year. Even after leaving Japan, he did not let go of Yokohama. When Yokohama won the Japan Series last year, he sent a congratulatory message. He has said, `If I return to Japan, I will put Yokohama on the top priority.' He kept his promise several times.

Yokohama fans clearly remember Bauer in 2023. Bauer, who joined the team after the opening of the season, went 10-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 19 appearances. He started every five days according to the Major League rotation method and pitched hard every game. He energized the team with his fiery fighting spirit. He was injured while attempting a diving catch against the Hanshin Tigers on August 30 of that year. He ended the season without taking the mound anymore due to injury.

Bauer was once the top pitcher in the major leagues. After moving to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021, he was suspended for a long time for sexual assault. Even after the disciplinary action was lifted, the allegations of sexual violence were turned away in scarlet letters. He announced that he would take the minimum salary, but there was no team looking for him.

Bauer threw in Mexico City in the Mexican League last year. With 10 wins and no losses, he was named the league MVP. He waited for a Major League call in the Mexican league. It proved that it worked well in the Major League, but the door to the tightly closed Major League was not opened. Bauer's failure to return to the Major League was a boon to Yokohama.

Bauer threw in the Mexican League this season and waited for a Major League call, but failed. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

Yokohama, which advanced to the climax series by ranking third in the Central League last year, held a miraculous race and even won the Japan Series. The second-ranked Hanshin Tigers and the first-ranked Yomiuri Giants were brought down to the Japan Series. In the Japan Series, he won four consecutive games and lifted the trophy after losing two consecutive games to the Softbank Hawks, the No. 1 Pacific League player. It was the first time in 26 years following 1998, but there was controversy over the championship of the third-place team in the league. Coach Daisuke Miura set his top goal this season to win the league. However, it was evaluated as difficult to win in objective power.

Last year, Yokohama, where Shota Imanaga and Bauer left, had a team ERA of 3.07. The Central League finished fifth in the category. Bauer joined and was able to fill the vulnerable points.

He joined the Arizona Diamondbacks as a first round draft pick in 2011. Tossed for the Cincinnati Reds via the Cleveland Guardians. In 2020, when the season was shortened due to COVID-19, he recorded 5 wins and 4 losses with a 1.73 ERA in 11 games. He won the National League Cy Young Award that year.

Bauer received an annual salary of $3 million (about 4.3 billion won) in Yokohama in 2023. This time, it will be close to 10 million dollars (about 14.33 billion won).

Bauer announced his good health with 10 wins and no losses in the Mexican League last year. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

I can see. Yokohama tried unsuccessfully to recruit Raidel Martinez as its closing pitcher this winter. Martinez, who was released as an FA from the Chunichi Dragons, signed a four-year-4.8 billion yen contract with the Yomiuri Giants. He poured the funds he had prepared to recruit Martinez into Bauer.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.