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Trevor Bauer 'more than open' to signing with Mets after 2021 offseason fiasco

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Trevor Bauer 'more than open' to signing with Mets after 2021 offseason fiasco

Trevor Bauer was very close to joining the New York Mets three years ago.

Right before inking a three-year deal worth north of $100 million, the Mets, fresh off Steve Cohen’s acquisition, had long been near the top of the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner’s list.

Bauer even posted a YouTube video in that offseason, discussing what intrigued him about the Mets.

Trevor Bauer was very close to joining the New York Mets three years ago. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

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“I was happy to come play for the Mets last time I was a free agent. Obviously, I was very close to having made that decision,” Bauer told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview this week.

Then something bizarre occurred.

Bauer’s own website accidentally advertised signed Mets hats by Bauer, prompting fans to think he was signing with New York, yet he had already agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The fiasco had him considering dropping out of his Dodgers agreement entirely and playing for the Mets, simply to appease the fan base in blue and orange.

“I won’t go more into depth on that one,” he told Fox News Digital.

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But now, after his 324-game suspension for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy for sexual misconduct allegations (which was reduced to 194) and spending one year playing in Japan, Bauer is again a free agent, and it sounds like the Mets could be near the top of his desired destinations again.

If “Uncle Stevie” came calling this time around, Bauer says he’d be “happy” to play in Queens.

Trevor Bauer’s website accidentally advertised signed Mets hats by Bauer, prompting fans to think he was signing with New York, yet he had already agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Harry How/Getty Images)

TREVOR BAUER SAYS HE’S GROWN FROM ‘MISTAKES’ IN THE PAST, HOPES FOR ‘SECOND OPPORTUNITY’ IN MLB

“The Mets have a great thing going on,” Bauer said. “Obviously, those players I’ve played with – I really respect [former Cleveland teammate] Francisco Lindor as a leader, as a player, he’s one of the best out there.”

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“Playing in New York would be awesome. The fan bases here are crazy. I’d be more than open to it.”

Bauer and his agent, Rachel Luba, are looking for a match, but one hasn’t come yet.

So, while it seems like Bauer has his eyeballs on Queens, he’s looking for any sort of opportunity in the Major Leagues.

And he has a pretty decent sales pitch.

“I do think I’m one of the best pitchers in the world,” Bauer said. “I have a lot to bring a team on and off the field. I’m very passionate about helping other players around me. But I think it’s more of, I want to be a positive influence on the community, on the team, on the organization, on the players.”

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Yokohama DeNA BayStars pitcher Trevor Bauer delivers against the Hiroshima Carp during a game in Yokohama, Japan, on May 3, 2023. (Kyodo News via AP)

“I’m going to perform on the field. I’m in great shape, I’m better now than I ever have been in my career. I have no doubt that I’ll perform well on the field. But I want to be a positive impact in the clubhouse. I want to be a positive impact in the community, and I will do those things. I’m committed to playing the second half of my career better than I played in the first; helping grow the game both from a skill perspective, on-the-field technical perspective, and from a fan-engagement perspective. I have a lot to offer. I’m going to do the second half of my career better than I did the first, and I’m just looking for an opportunity to do that.”

The Mets won 101 games in 2022 but just 75 last year. Bauer pitched to a 2.76 ERA in Japan’s professional league while striking out 130 batters in 130.2 innings.

New York recently signed longtime Yankees veteran Luis Severino and acquired Adrian Houser from the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Ole Miss staffer references Aaron Hernandez while discussing ‘chaotic’ coaching complications with LSU

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Ole Miss staffer references Aaron Hernandez while discussing ‘chaotic’ coaching complications with LSU

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The chaos between LSU coaches who left Ole Miss alongside Lane Kiffin but are still coaching the Rebels in the College Football Playoff is certainly a whirlwind.

Joe Judge, Ole Miss’ quarterbacks coach, has found himself in the thick of the drama — while he is not headed for Baton Rouge, he’s had to wonder who he will be working with on a weekly basis.

When asked this week about what it’s like to go through all the trials and tribulations, Judge turned heads with his answer that evoked his New England Patriots days.

 

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Aaron Hernandez sits in the courtroom of the Attleboro District Court during his hearing. Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, on Aug. 22, 2013. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

“My next-door neighbor was Aaron Hernandez,” Judge said, according to CBS Sports. “I know this is still more chaotic.”

Hernandez was found guilty of the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, which occurred just three years into his NFL career.

“If you watch those documentaries, my house is on the TV next door,” Judge added. “The detectives knocked on my door to find out where he was. I didn’t know. We just kind of talked to the organization. But it was obviously chaotic.”

Aaron Hernandez was convicted of the 2013 murder of semipro football player Odin Lloyd. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

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FROM MR IRRELEVANT TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH, BROCK PURDY WANTS TO USE HIS LIFESTYLE FOR GOOD

Judge, though, was able to compare the two situations to see how players can combat wild distractions.

“Those players that year handled that extremely well. Came out of that chaos, and we had some really good direction inside with some veterans and some different guys. You have something like that happen — how do you handle something like that? How do you deal with something like that? So you keep the focus on what you can handle, what you can control, which at that time was football for us, and we went through the stretch, and we were able to have success that year,” Judge said.

Judge also compared this scenario to the 2020 NFL season when he was head coach of the New York Giants, saying he would have “no idea” who would be available due to surprise positive COVID-19 tests.

Head coach Joe Judge of the New York Giants looks on during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. The game took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Dec. 19, 2021. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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The Rebels face Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, the College Football Playoff Semifinal, on Thursday night.

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Prep talk: Calabasas basketball team is surging with 11 wins in last 12 games

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Prep talk: Calabasas basketball team is surging with 11 wins in last 12 games

Calabasas pulled off a huge win in high school basketball on Tuesday night, handing Thousand Oaks its first defeat after 16 victories in a Marmonte League opener.

The Coyotes (13-5) have quietly turned around their season after a 2-4 start, winning 11 of their last 12 games.

One of the major contributors has been 6-foot-3 junior guard Johnny Thyfault, who’s averaging 16 points and has become a fan favorite because of his dunking skills. He also leads the team in taking charging fouls.

He transferred to Calabasas after his freshman year at Viewpoint.

As for beating Thousand Oaks, coach Jon Palarz said, “We got to play them at home and had great effort.”

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This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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Hawks trade 4-time All-Star Trae Young to Wizards in blockbuster deal: reports

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Hawks trade 4-time All-Star Trae Young to Wizards in blockbuster deal: reports

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The Atlanta Hawks have parted ways with four-time NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young, trading him to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster move, according to ESPN.

The Hawks will reportedly be receiving veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert in the deal. 

Washington was Young’s preferred destination, and the two sides were working on a deal to get the 27-year-old point guard to the nation’s capital.

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Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.   ( Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Young’s agents were having conversations with the Hawks, who sit at 17-21 so far this season, about trading their client out of Atlanta.

There is a mutual connection in Washington, too, as executive Travis Schlenk drafted Young fifth overall in 2018 out of Oklahoma.

It marks the end of an era for the Hawks. Young has been the focal point of their offense since he was taken in that draft. He is the team’s career leader in three-pointers and assists, having led the team to the postseason in three of his eight seasons. The Hawks went the furthest in 2021, where they made the Eastern Conference Finals.

LEBRON JAMES DECLARES HIMSELF ‘TBD’ FOR BACK-TO-BACK GAMES FOR REST OF SEASON: ‘I’M 41′

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However, the new era was brewing already in Atlanta, with forward Jalen Johnson taking the next step in his career, averaging 23.7 points per game this season. The pickup of Nickeil Alexander-Walker also helps, as he’s averaged 20.5 points per game in 36 appearances.

Meanwhile, Young has played just 10 games this season, as he’s been dealing with leg injuries, most notably a right MCL sprain.

Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on after the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Hawks also get some flexibility on their books, as they could make some more moves. Anthony Davis is reportedly available from the Dallas Mavericks, making him a good target for Atlanta.

Young has $95 million remaining on his deal that runs through the 2026-27 season, which includes a player option this offseason.

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Atlanta will be taking on McCollum’s contract, though the veteran guard has a $30.6 million expiring deal.

Through his 10 games this season, Young is averaging 19.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.5% from the field.

Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks drives down the court during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at State Farm Arena on April 7, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Over his career, Young has dropped 25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, while leading the league in the latter category last season with 11.6 per contest.

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