Trevor Bauer spurns Mets for Dodgers homecoming - New York Post

Trevor Bauer returned home and rejected the Mets, agreeing to terms with the Dodgers on Friday.

Bauer, the free-agent right-hander, agreed to terms with the reigning World Series champions, rejecting the Mets’ offer for three years that would’ve paid him between $100-to-$110 million. The Dodgers’ three-year contract is worth $102 million, paying him $40 million in Year 1, $45 million in the second, with Bauer able to opt out after either.

Bauer, 30, went 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA in the shortened 2020 campaign.

While it has been a busy offseason in Flushing for new owner Steve Cohen and returning team president Sandy Alderson, it will not end with them landing the top pitcher (Bauer) or position player (George Springer) in free agency.

The Mets did however land star shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco in a trade with the Indians last month. They also signed catcher James McCann to a four-year, $40 million deal and strengthened their bullpen with the additions of Trevor May and Aaron Loup. Marcus Stroman and Carrasco will be the third and fourth starters with Noah Syndergaard expected to return from Tommy John surgery around midseason.

The Mets also remain in talks with free-agent outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

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Bauer, a former UCLA star, comes with off-the-field issues, notably on social media. He harassed a female college student on Twitter two years ago, digging up a photo from her timeline of her drinking before her 21st birthday and subjecting her to ridicule by his 414,000 followers. Bauer tweeted 17 times at her, or at others while discussing her, over three days. He later apologized.

Bauer has discussed a desire to pitch every four days and said, in part, his next team’s willingness to work with him on that experiment would be part of his decision. He spent six-plus seasons with the Indians before being dealt to the Reds before the 2019 trade deadline.

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