Who Will Sign Trevor Bauer? 6 Potential Free Agent Landing Spots

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to release Trevor Bauer. Where will Bauer sign to play in 2023? Here are six potential free agent destinations for Bauer.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have until the end of the business day Friday to either reinstate or release Trevor Bauer. 

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, if the Dodgers are unable to find a team that is willing to trade for him, they are expected to release him and pay the remaining $22.5 million left on his contract.

If the Dodgers do release Bauer, he may become a desirable free agent option. Teams would have the chance to acquire a former Cy Young Award winner, at a serious discount.

Assuming that the Dodgers release Bauer, where might he sign? Here are six potential free agent destinations for the 2020 National League Cy Young.

1) Texas Rangers — The Texas Rangers mean business. They're going all-in, and have ponied up the money to show it, after signing Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray and Andrew Heaney over the last two winters. Why stop there? If the Rangers really want to declare war on the Houston Astros in the American League West, they could add another elite starter that would make their rotation even better.

2) Houston Astros — I don't believe the Astros will actually make a play for Bauer, but if they did, this would be probably be the best situation for him to land in. Bauer would join the defending champions and effectively replace Justin Verlander in the rotation. I believe the Astros will replace Verlander internally though, and give top prospect Hunter Brown a chance in the rotation.

3) New York Mets — Signing Bauer would come with some baggage, but do you think owner Steve Cohen would care? Cohen has shown a commitment to winning and acquiring the best players available on the free agent market, which Bauer will become if he is released.

4) San Diego Padres — After Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Blake Snell, there are questions about the back-end of the Padres' rotation. Seth Lugo will be given the chance to start. The Padres have spent big over the last few years and are currently above the luxury tax threshold. Bauer would be an extremely cost-effective addition, as the club would only need to pay him the league minimum. Bauer might enjoy the opportunity to join a division rival of the Dodgers and pitch against them.

5) Cleveland Guardians — For the same reason that Bauer makes sense for the Padres, a return to Cleveland would also make sense for the veteran. Bauer spent the bulk of his career with the Indians, and the Indians could use another starter. The cost-effectiveness of a Bauer addition makes him especially valuable to teams that either don't have much money or are trying not to spend much more money than they are currently spending. The Guardians currently have the 27th-highest payroll in the sport.

6) Cincinnati Reds — The last team on this list, is my prediction for where he ends up. Bauer won a Cy Young with the Reds. The Reds can bring back Bauer on the cheap, and potentially sell him at the deadline to a contender in need of another starting pitcher. A smaller market team may be a better place for Bauer to restart his career. The Reds have shown interest in bringing back Johnny Cueto, but have not done so yet. They're in the market for another starting pitcher, and Bauer may be the best one available.

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