In need of starting pitching for the playoffs in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, the Diablos Rojos del Mexico contacted Trevor Bauer about a potential return from Japan.
According to Irving Furlong of Septima Entrada, the team contacted Bauer during Monday’s 24-hour free agent signing window about a return for the 2025 playoffs, but Bauer’s contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball is guaranteed through December, making him unable to return to the Reds until next season.
“We contacted him,” Diablos Rojos Sports Director Miguel Ojeda told Septima Entrada. “He has a guaranteed contract that ends in December of this year, and he was very clear; he told us it was impossible this season, that we would talk about next year. We’re happy with that.”
Bauer is the reigning pitcher of the year in the LMB, having won the award after putting up a record-setting season with the Diablos in 2024, but has struggled in his return to the BayStars, for whom he pitched in 2023. He’s 4-9 with a 4.11 ERA in 18 starts and has struck out 110, and had been sent down to the minors briefly.
“He hasn’t had a good year,” Ojeda told Septima Entrada. “I think Trevor is, as a player, an extraordinary pitcher. You saw him here, and I think any team that has the opportunity to bring him on board will do everything possible to do so. We’ll do the same.”
The Diablos have clinched the top seed in the Zona Sur for the 2025 playoffs, and manager Lorenzo Bundy named Brooks Hall as the starter for the first game of the playoffs, which will start on August 9.
Photo: Trevor Bauer might return to the Diablos Rojos del Mexico, but it won’t be for the 2025 LMB Playoffs. (Photo courtesy of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico)
