Even if the Phillies were working with “stupid money” this offseason, it would
probably be wise to pass on Bauer.
When signing any player to a large contract, teams have to consider the man in both the clubhouse and the community for the next three to five years.
Bauer has a polarizing reputation around the league and it’s not because he’s unafraid to call out Commissioner Rob Manfred and troll the Astros with trashcan cleats.
Bauer repeatedly harassed a woman on social media in 2019. He was reluctant to listen to his catcher while in Arizona. He also had to leave in the first inning of Game 3 of the 2016 ALCS after an injury he suffered while repairing his drone became impossible to pitch with.
This isn’t to say Bauer is a sexist or a bad teammate.
It’s up to the teams who are interested in signing him to make do with the prior intel they have on Bauer. Conversely, former teammates have praised Bauer in the past. His media presence and willingness to promote his sport could be seen as a positive.