Trevor Bauer will play in Japan this season and we’re so sorry, Japan

Former Cleveland Guardians pitcher Trevor Bauer is to play in Japan, and yikes.

Trevor Bauer has joined Deshaun Watson in the pantheon of terrible current or former Cleveland players. Right there with Omar Vizquel, Jim Brown, John Rocker, and sadly, so many others. Bauer has had his defenders, which isn’t shocking considering how many people can’t look past their fandom and judge someone for their behavior.

But Bauer’s behavior, even without the violent claims against him, has always been problematic. In the eyes of some, he’s selfish, arrogant, and egotistical, he’s bullied fans, and harassed people on social media and if the way he treats people isn’t bad enough, has put his love of drones over his professional career more than once. The most famous of moments came when he cut his finger in 2016, during the playoffs, having to leave Game 3 of the ALCS due to a cut on his finger that wouldn’t stop bleeding.

He must have gone to the Kellen Winslow school of Hobbying Your Career Away.

He’s also someone who thinks pitchers should be allowed to cheat by greasing up baseballs so pitchers have better grip control. While some will say it’s for the batter’s safety, we all know that’s a crock.

With all that in play, it shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that he’s blackballed from the Major Leagues, and rightfully so. Now, he’s Japan’s problem.

Our apologies to the country of Japan

Sending Bauer to Japan may have been a last-ditch effort by his agents, but the country of Japan did nothing to deserve Bauer. While I’d like to be optimistic that Bauer will get his head on straight and avoid any type of problems. That’s unlikely. What’s more likely is he puts up some solid numbers and becomes a quote machine for foreign media.

Bauer’s reputation may never be rehabbed, and outside of a few years of play where he was greasing his baseballs, he’s never been a great pitcher. Good, sure, but outside of two full seasons’ worth of play, divided up across three teams, Bauer hasn’t been an elite pitcher.

So even if he did figure out his issues and come back with a more sterling reputation, it’s hard to imagine a team taking a chance on him.