The Long Island Ducks are “excited” to offer former Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer the “platform” to potentially return to Major League Baseball, team president Michael Pfaff told The Post Thursday night after the club announced the signing of the right-hander.
“What I would say is that all decisions are team decisions. Everybody has a voice in the room,” Pfaff said. “And what we looked at is a 10-year Major League veteran who is a Cy Young Award winner, who is eligible to return to Major League Baseball. And is desirous of using the same path so many have used before him, with the Long Island Ducks, to get back to Major League Baseball.
“So we’re excited to offer him this showcase and this platform. We’re going to work hard and he’s going to work hard to make sure that it turns out well for everyone.”
The addition of Bauer comes with its fair share of controversy after he was hit with sexual assault allegations in 2021, though he was never criminally charged.
He was suspended by MLB for 194 games for violating the league’s domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
Pfaff told The Post that the reaction the signing has “been really positive so far.”
The Ducks are handing the opening night start to Bauer when they face the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars on April 21 in Central Islip.
“He has a very good idea of what he wants to do and he asked the question about what our vision of his usage might be, and when we put opening day in front of him, he did not hesitate,” the Ducks executive said. “He said he’d be ready and our focus is to get him ready for that.”
The Ducks open their spring training on April 10 and the club is anticipating him reporting at the start of camp.
As part of the Ducks’ announcement, the organization said Bauer would be mic’d up for all games and practices to create content for his personal social media and the team’s.
Bauer hasn’t pitched in an MLB game since June 28, 2021.
Following his release from the Dodgers in 2023, the former MLB All-Star has played in Japan and Mexico in hopes of reviving his career.
A number of former major leaguers have gone through Central Islip in the hope of one final shot at the MLB, including ex-Met Daniel Murphy, Dontrelle Willis, Eric Gagne and Rich Hill.
Firebrand closing pitcher John Rocker famously attempted a comeback in 2005 with the Ducks.
Pfaff said Bauer had a number of opportunities in Japan, Mexico and with other Atlantic League teams.
“He chose Long Island because we have proveably been the best showcase for players like him to get signed by MLB and MLB clubs, and that’s his goal. His goal here is to see if he can get another chance in Major League Baseball and we’re going to provide him that showcase,” he said.