Dodgers Land Cy Young Winner And LA Native, Trevor Bauer

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Dodgers reached a three-year deal with the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer, the pitcher announced Friday morning.

The North Hollywood native and UCLA and Hart High School star will be the highest-paid player in the league. The signing seeks to overcome an area of weakness for the league champions as the Dodgers look to defend their title in the coming season. The $102 million deal has opt-outs after years one and two,ESPN reported. According to ESPN, Bauer is set to make $40 million in 2021 and $45 the next year, likely making him the league’s highest-paid player for the next two years. The Dodgers beat out the Mets, a club that reportedly offered more money than Los Angeles.

After years of inconsistent postseason pitching, the Dodgers hope Bauer is the missing piece of the puzzle for building a dynasty. Management aren’t the only ones with a dynasty on the mind.

“See last season doesn’t matter anymore,” said Bauer in a Youtube video announcing the move. “Come April, what matters is this team, this group of players, this group of fans, and the name across our chests. This season is about making sure history remembers us as we wish to be remembered. This season is about adding to our legacy, and I can’t wait, Dodger fans.”

Bauer, a right-handed pitcher who dominated the league for the Cincinnati Reds last year, is the first Cy Young Award winner to enter free agency in decades. Bauer started his career with the Diamondbacks and spent most of his career with the Indians. He has a career ERA of 3.9, and his all-time low ERA of 1.73 was in 2020.