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Trevor Bauer Calls Out Indians for Service Time Manipulation With Several Minor League Prospects

By Scott Rogust

Trevor Bauer called out the Indians for their service time manipulation of top prospects.
Trevor Bauer called out the Indians for their service time manipulation of top prospects. /

Even though there's no baseball going on right now, an always-controversial MLB topic has resurfaced to anger everyone involved.

On Thursday, the Cleveland Indians announced that they assigned Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac, James Karichak, and Bradley Zimmer to Triple-A Columbus. Outspoken Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer decided to give his two cents on the situation, where he called out his former team for service time manipulation.

It's something we've seen far too much in Major League Baseball. A top young player impresses during Spring Training, only to be sent down by the team before the start of the regular season to secure their services for an extra year. Kris Bryant and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are the most prevalent examples of the bogus manipulation.

Civale, Plesac, and Karinchak were all talented enough to make the 26-man Opening Day roster. But now, they will start off their 2020 campaign in the minors. Of course, it's unknown when that will begin, but commissioner Rob Manfred is confident that baseball could resume by late May.

Bauer has never been afraid to speak his mind. Just look at how he openly (and deservedly) criticized Manfred and the Houston Astros. Despite trading him in-state, the Indians weren't safe from Bauer's Twitter fingers.