The Pirates released right-hander Domingo German this week, according to the transaction record at MiLB.com. He had been pitching for their Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. According to Robert Murray of FanSided, German utilized an opt-out clause in his contract, resulting in his release. According to Murray, the Bucs are still open to bringing him back, most likely under a new minor league contract.
German, 31, has started eleven games in Indianapolis and has a 5.36 ERA, a below-average 20.6% strikeout rate, and a bloated 12.6% walk percentage. However, a significant chunk of the damage against German was done in one horrific outing in which he allowed eight runs (seven earned) in just five innings. In six starts since that terrible outing, he’s posted a more acceptable 3.60 ERA with somewhat higher strikeout and walk rates of 22.7% and 10.9%.
German has spent his whole big league career wearing a Yankees uniform. He spent portions of six seasons in the Bronx, pitching 522 1/3 innings with a 4.41 ERA, largely in the starting rotation. He has had some major-league success, but his stint with the Yankees was plagued by off-the-field difficulties.
German was suspended for 81 games in 2020 in accordance with the MLB-MLBPA domestic violence policy. As a result, he did not pitch in the truncated 2020 season. German also missed the remainder of the 2023 season after “voluntarily submitting to inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse” (as revealed by the Yankees at the time) following an incident in which he was allegedly inebriated in the clubhouse. Earlier in the 2023 season, he received a 10-game suspension after an umpire determined that the pitcher had violated MLB’s foreign substance policy on the mound.
Despite the fact that Jared Jones, Bailey Falter, and Johan Oviedo are now injured, the Pirates have a pretty deep rotation. Pittsburgh’s current rotation features Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Martin Perez, Quinn Priester, and Marco Gonzales. Righty Luis Ortiz and top prospect Braxton Ashcraft give the Bucs more alternatives, with Ashcraft in particular having a breakout season at Double-A and Triple-A. Falter has left triceps tendinitis and is not anticipated to be out for long. Jones was sidelined for two weeks in early July after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 lat strain. It’s unclear when he’ll be able to start pitching, let alone rejoin the big league staff. Oviedo got Tommy John surgery this summer and will be out until 2025.
