Trevor Bauer was the subject of trade rumors leading up to the deadline last year long before he threw a fit over being removed from a game, but the star pitcher thinks that incident may have helped solidify the Cleveland Indians’ decision to move on from him.
Bauer was a guest on the “Pardon My Take” podcast this week, and he was asked if he believes angrily heaving a ball over the center field wall two days before he was traded factored into the way the Indians viewed his future with the team.
“Honestly, yeah, it might have,” Bauer said, as transcribed by WKYC’s Ben Axelrod. “Obviously any information you have going into the deadline plays a part in decisions that are being made and emotions that are had.”
In that infamous game, Bauer had allowed nine hits and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals when Indians manager Terry Francona came out to the mound to pull the right-hander. Bauer, who was frustrated with himself, turned toward the outfield and heaved the ball over the wall. He joked with the “Pardon My Take” crew that he could have thrown it further.
Trevor Bauer’s last throw as a Cleveland Indian will be forever legendary pic.twitter.com/FmY0IyQw4H
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) January 20, 2020
Francona admitted after the trade that he “had concerns” about how Bauer’s meltdown might impact Cleveland’s team chemistry. However, all indications were the Indians had decided well before the incident that they did not want to pay Bauer. Bauer’s relationship with the team also may have been strained during the arbitration process.
If nothing else, the meltdown probably made it easier for the Indians to trade Bauer to the Cincinnati Reds.
