Fan shows up to Phillies Spring Training game with ‘Phree Trevor Bauer’ sign featuring the hashtag ‘Innocent’

The Philadelphia Phillies are in the final stretch of Major League Baseball Spring Training before heading back to Citizens Bank Park on March 28th to face the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day.

There are several free agent starting pitchers still looking for a place to play in 2024, and one of the more controversial names would be Trevor Bauer. During the Phillies Spring Training game against the Houston Astros, one fan decided to bring a custom sign to the ballpark that read “Phree T. Bauer #Innocent” which stood out like a sore thumb on the broadcast.

Trevor Bauer Sign at Astros-Phillies Spring Training Game

Someone get this bozo outta here pic.twitter.com/vbwRsa0qyX

— Bad Pancake (@baseba11rodeo) March 8, 2024

I’ll address the sign and my thoughts on it below. We should however, start with Trevor Bauer and the controversy surrounding him whenever his name brought up as a potential option for any Major League Baseball club in 2024.

It would be foolish to ignore the fact that Trevor Bauer’s name alone will always make people upset.

A lot of baseball fans are still concerned or simply downright angry about the allegations against him and the suspension (that he served) from Major League Baseball because of it. I know very well that the “Internet Court of Public Opinion” will shred me for even posting about Bauer.

That was obviously expected last time when I wrote about the Phillies and Bauer, and will certainly prove to be true yet again.

Just look at the quote tweets and replies stack up after I suggested signing him before

Trevor Bauer is willing to take an incentive-based contract with any MLB team willing to give him a shot.

…Phillies 👀#RingTheBell | @drewmsmith https://t.co/pAHImuc8lR

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) February 7, 2024

I’ll be criticized by accounts with no real information about the person running them for “supporting a rapist” or “not believing women” which is obviously ridiculous.

To be clear – zero allegations of sexual assault or rape should be taken lightly. OBVIOUSLY.

If we are going to address the fact that the allegations shouldn’t be taken lightly then it’s only fair we look at the other side of the equation too. Bauer has provided some pretty significant evidence to prove his innocence and has never been arrested or charged after being accused of such horrible acts.

If you’re upset with anyone, lets make sure it’s with the judicial system and baseball.

I’m looking at a starting pitcher that has proven to be elite during his time with the Reds and Dodgers, and again in Japan while playing in the NPL. We’ll leave it at that. Feel free to do your own research to form or change your opinion.

Last March, Bauer signed a one-year, $4MM contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He posted a 2.76 ERA through 130 2/3 innings while striking out 24.3% of opposing hitters. With that one-year deal complete, he is again a free agent and eligible to return to Major League Baseball. 

This is a cheap option for a proven MLB pitcher that has the potential to be certified stud and a No. 2 or No. 3 starter behind Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. 

On top of that, Bauer himself has stated that he just wants the opportunity to pitch at the major league level again and will do so at practically no cost to any team that’s willing to give him a shot.

You could think of it as a low risk, high-reward signing.

Is the juice worth the squeeze? Probably not.

Like I said, people with dumb signs in the outfield saying “#Innocent” in regards to Trevor Bauer are specifically trying to get people riled up. That alone, isn’t worth the drama and headlines the Phillies would almost certainly receive if they brought Bauer into the club house.

Speaking of the clubhouse, the Phillies made it a point to keep everything relatively “the same” heading into this season because of how well the current squad players together and genuinely like each other. Bringing in someone like Bauer, regardless of what’s true and not true, could push things in the wrong-direction.

That alone, is something I’m personally not willing to risk.

Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell are Available (Still)

Two other starting pitchers with a proven track record are still on the free agent market and you’d have to think the longer they are available, the lower the price tag will be for each.

Personally, I would sign both of them on 1-2 year contracts loaded with incentives. That would allow you to move Christopher Sanchez to a long-inning relief role with Matt Strahm and use Taijuan Walker, who is a proven “innings-eater” as the sixth man in your rotation.

Will that happen? Probably not, but hopefully John Middleton and the Phillies land one of the two before Opening Day.

Join The Chase