All I care about is what the MLB investigation and arbitrator came up with in their investigation that made them suspend him. Obviously a player doesn't need to be found guilty in a court of law for the league to take action. I don't believe the league which doesn't have subpoena power would have access to those txts.
I agree that because of who he is and his previous history, he's not exactly beloved in the league. But I'd have to think something came up in their investigation came up for them to suspend him for that length of time, and I don't think the Dodgers would basically throw money down the drain to release him.
I don't think this is over. I wouldn't be surprised if details from MLB's investigation start to leak at some point.
I have many questions about this situations.
1) Like you, I would love to see the evidence that MLB used to base the two year suspension. Did they have access to some of the information that Bauer presented in his video? Did they simply rely on the statements and accusations from Lindsey Hill?
2) I would like to know why the MLB demanded a two year suspension for Bauer and yet only a 20 game suspension for Aroldis Chapman when there was actual evidence supporting the charges against Chapman.
3) I would like to know why there wasn't a single MLB team (all of which need pitchers) that was willing to sign a former Cy Young award winner to even a minor league deal? There are a long list of players that have had punishments handed down due to the MLB policy against domestic violence. Aroldis Chapman, Marcell Ozuna, Domingo German, Roberto Osuna, Julio Urias, and a handful of other players faced similar accusations and were suspended, but had no problem continuing their playing careers. What is it about Bauer that has a former Cy Young winner essentially blacklisted from MLB baseball teams.
4) I would like to know why reputable MLB writers that were quick to villainize Bauer at the time of the suspension have no interest in taking up this story today when all of the evidence makes it clear that Bauer was the victim of a scam for money?