The Los Angeles Dodgers once honored a pitcher who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2020 for being the best pitcher in the league. That same pitcher is now at a crossroads in his career, wondering if he’ll even play professional baseball in 2026. The former star’s journey has taken a sobering turn that leaves his future hanging in the balance. He had a 4-10 record and a 4.51 ERA in 21 games in Japan.

Trevor Bauer’s uncertain future took a turn for the worse when Beisbolpuro reported that he had honestly told Japanese media about his disappointing season with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. “I want to take some time off to not think about baseball. I don’t know when that will be decided, or even if I’ll continue playing baseball next year,” Bauer showed that the player really didn’t know what to do next. His 1.369 WHIP and seven straight losses to end the regular season were a big change from the pitcher who used to rule Major League Baseball.

Trevor Bauer’s time with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars was a big letdown, especially since he had done well with the Diablos Rojos in Mexico’s LMB in 2024. The 34-year-old’s one-year contract, which was worth about 900 million yen, was meant to show that he could compete at the highest levels around the world. But, he had trouble being consistent and only worked as a reliever instead of the starting role that defined his MLB career.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Right now, I don’t know if I’ll keep playing next year,” Bauer stated, acknowledging the reality of his disappointing performance. The terrible NPB run makes people wonder if Bauer will get another job in the pros. No MLB teams have shown interest in signing him, so he doesn’t have any obvious places to go.

Bauer praised Japanese pitchers, saying that “the average speed of Japanese pitchers has improved a lot.” However, his own problems suggest that the game may have changed too much for him to keep up. The BayStars haven’t said what they’ll do in 2026, and Bauer’s comments show that he needs a break from baseball. The biggest question mark in a career full of both brilliance and uncertainty is whether this will be a short break or a permanent retirement.

Bauer is thinking about quitting the game, but the team that used to employ him is moving in the opposite direction at a faster rate. The Dodgers have moved on from their former pitcher’s problems and are now looking for new players who can help them stay on top for years to come.

Dodgers eye Tucker as the championship window widens

Bauer’s career is on the line, but his former organization is still building a dynasty that could rule baseball for years to come. Kyle Tucker, the best outfielder in the league, is a target for the Los Angeles Dodgers. After they made it to the World Series against either Seattle or Toronto, he became the most sought-after free agent this offseason.

The Dodgers are going after Tucker hard because of what he’s done in the past. He played 136 games and had a .266 batting average, 22 home runs, and an impressive .841 OPS. He also had 73 RBIs and stole 25 bases. Tucker’s numbers in the second half of the season weren’t as good because he hurt his finger and strained his calf. However, his four All-Star selections and career 140 OPS+ show that he is one of baseball’s best two-way threats who can hit for power, run fast, and be dependable.

The Dodgers saw a clear flaw that Tucker fixes right away. Teoscar Hernández didn’t do well in left field this season, hitting only .229 with not much power. This made the front office look for more help in the corner outfield. Tucker can help. He could take over left field right away, or the Dodgers could move Hernández to right field, which would make the best lineup.

It costs a lot of money to get Tucker. The Dodgers have the money to go after top players, and the owners are willing to pay more than $400 million for players who could change the course of the franchise. But Tucker will have to deal with a lot of tough competition from a lot of other players, which will make for a very exciting bidding war all offseason.