Trevor Bauer signs with Long Island Ducks in latest attempt to revive MLB career
Trevor Bauer of Diablos Rojos pitches during a spring training game against the Yankees at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu on March 24, 2024, in Mexico City. Credit: Getty Images/Manuel Velasquez
The Long Island Ducks have their Opening Day starter — and it’s a former Cy Young Award winner.
The Ducks have signed Trevor Bauer to a standard one-year contract, the team announced Thursday morning. Bauer, 35, is a 10-year MLB veteran and won the Cy Young Award with the Reds in 2020.
“Trevor had a lot of choices,” Ducks president and chief business officer Michael Pfaff said. “Whether it was [Japan] or Mexico or other teams in MLB partner leagues, he chose Long Island because he saw it was the best possible showcase to get back to Major League Baseball.”
Bauer is expected to start the Ducks’ season opener against Hagerstown on April 21 at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip.
Bauer last pitched in the majors in late June 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a three-year, $102 million deal the previous February.
Bauer has been trying to revive his big-league career since serving a 194-game suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. He was never charged with a crime, and civil claims against him were settled.
“We make team decisions and everyone is involved and has a voice in the room,” Pfaff said. “Looking at Trevor, a Cy Young Award winner, it’s very exciting for the fans. The feedback we’ve received has been very positive.”
After the Dodgers released Bauer in 2023, he played in Japan and Mexico. He was nominated for the Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game in Japan in 2023 and was named the Mexican League Pitcher of the Year in 2024. In 2025, he returned to Japan for a second stint with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. The two sides parted ways on Dec. 2.
“One thing I haven’t done during that time is play at home on U.S. soil, and that matters to me,” Bauer said in a video on X. “I’m looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans this season. The Ducks have had incredible players come through their organization, and I’m excited to be a part of that tradition.”
Where I’m Playing This Season... pic.twitter.com/uosWkaoKaE
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) April 2, 2026
Bauer, who has a YouTube channel with more than a million subscribers, is expected to be mic’d up for games and practices throughout the season. It’s the first time the Ducks will have a player mic’d up all season, Pfaff said. Bauer has partnered with the Atlantic League to create content.
After Opening Day, Bauer is scheduled to start on April 26 in Lancaster and May 2 in Central Islip, Pfaff said.
“For the fans, the most exciting part is the access they can get,” Pfaff said. “He’s mic’d up for practices and games. This content will be created here at the ballpark. It’s something I think our fans will enjoy.”
In addition to the Reds and Dodgers, Bauer pitched for Cleveland and the Diamondbacks. He was 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA and 1,416 strikeouts in 222 major-league games.
