Trevor Bauer signs with Long Island Ducks in latest attempt to revive MLB career

The Long Island Ducks have their Opening Day pitcher — and it’s a former Cy Young Award winner.

The Ducks announced Thursday morning they have signed Trevor Bauer to a standard Atlantic League contract of one season. Bauer, 35, is a 10-year MLB veteran and won the Cy Young Award in 2020 with the Cincinnati Reds.

“Trevor had a lot of choices,” Long Island 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 on April 21 against Hagerstown at 6:35 p.m. at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

Bauer last pitched in MLB in June 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a three-year, $102 million deal in February 2021.

Bauer has been trying to revive his big-league career after 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 overseas in Japan and Mexico. He was nominated for the Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game in Japan in 2023 and was named Mexican League Pitcher of the Year in 2024. In 2025, he returned to Japan for a second stint with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars before they 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 via 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

With his arrival, the Ducks are planning to do something different. Bauer 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, according to Pfaff. Bauer has a YouTube channel with over a million subscribers and has partnered with the Atlantic League to create content.

Bauer’s first three scheduled starts are April 21, April 26 and May 2.

“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.”

Bauer is 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA in 222 games, including 212 starts, in his 10 MLB seasons with four teams.