Trevor Bauer leaving Long Island Ducks to play in Mexican League

Trevor Bauer’s successful stay with the Long Island Ducks is over, at least for now. He’s on to Mexico. Or back to Mexico in this case.

But the door isn’t shut on a return to Central Islip later this season.

The Ducks announced Monday that the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner with Cincinnati had signed with Diablos Rojos del Mexico. He became the fifth Ducks player to have his contract transferred this year.

This is actually a sequel for Bauer because he excelled with this Mexican League team in 2024 and won a championship.

Bauer basically wrote a thank-you note to the Ducks and Long Island on the way out.

“I want to thank the Long Island Ducks organization for giving me the opportunity to be part of the team,” Bauer said in a statement. “… From day one, everyone welcomed me and treated me incredibly well, and I’m grateful for the relationships and friendships I’ll take with me. The support from the fans and the Long Island community has been truly special.”

After going on the injured list May 18 with back spasms, the 35-year-old righty returned Sunday and allowed just one run, two hits and no walks and struck out 10 over five innings in a 7-2 victory over Lancaster at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. That left him with a 5-1 record, a 2.36 ERA, 66 strikeouts and just seven walks across seven starts and 42 innings.

The 35-year-old righty spoke after this latest start about his continued desire to get back to a major-league organization.

So why is Bauer going to Diablos Rojos now? Here’s what happened behind the scenes:

“What he told us is that team is the one that’s trying to win a third consecutive championship,” team president/chief business officer Michael Pfaff told Newsday. “It’s a group of players that he has a fondness for and an organization that he enjoyed pitching for. I’m not going to divulge the compensation, but it’s a significantly higher level of compensation than the Atlantic League.

“He’s the best pitcher in the league. There has never been a time in this league’s 28 years of existence where the best pitcher in the league didn’t get signed in the first couple of months, when I think more than 20 other pitchers in this league have gotten signed.

“He said, ‘I’ve got this opportunity that’s been presented to me. I’ve done an excellent job both on and off the field in the Atlantic League. MLB is not going to sign me at this point. I’ll take advantage of this opportunity in Mexico to help my team in Mexico City win a third consecutive championship.' "

After a 324-game suspension was shortened to 194 for what was deemed a violation of MLB’s domestic violence and sex assault policy, the 10-year vet went unsigned by the majors.

MLB previously released a statement that read: "Trevor Bauer served the entirety of his discipline and is an unrestricted free agent available to sign a contract with any team."

Bauer pitched in Japan in 2023 and 2025.

In between, he became the Mexican League Pitcher of the Year after going 10-0 with a 2.48 ERA over 14 starts. He tied a Mexican League record with 19 strikeouts in one game and posted a 1.67 ERA in the postseason.

“I’m excited to rejoin my teammates with the Diablos Rojos as we pursue a third consecutive championship,” Bauer said, “and I wish everyone with the Ducks organization nothing but success moving forward. I hope our paths cross again in the future.”

It’s possible that could happen this year, but several stars would have to perfectly align, including MLB continuing to keep its distance and the now 31-23 Ducks reaching the postseason.

“We did leave the door open to being re-signed with the Ducks,” Pfaff said. “If we make the playoffs and when [Diablos Rojos’] season ends, there’s a chance that should we clinch a playoff spot, he could return to us for the playoffs. We spoke about that, and he said that he would definitely give that consideration.

“Obviously, it will depend on where his health is at the time and how many innings he has thrown and all of those variables. But he enjoyed his time on Long Island.”

Bauer, in the words of Pfaff, “really did exceed all of our expectations.” That went for his mostly dominant mound work — including a seven-inning no-hitter against Lancaster and a Ducks-record 15-strikeout game against Gastonia, his leadership in the clubhouse and his willingness to interact with fans and sign autograph after autograph, even after starts.

Pfaff said the Ducks have signed righty Ryan Cardona, formerly in Triple-A for the Reds, to take Bauer’s place in the rotation.

“We’re always looking for the absolute best possible available players,” Pfaff said. “Trevor was that when he was available and we pursued him and were able to land him. We hope that the next Trevor is not far off on the horizon."