A LONG BAN FOR GERMAN
Yankee pitcher gets 81-game suspension for violating domestic violence policy
Domingo German will not be available to pitch for the Yankees until June. The righthander has accepted a suspension of 81 games under MLB and the union’s Joint Domestic Violence policy after an investigation by the league spurred last September. The suspension is retroactive to when he went on administrative leave, meaning he will serve a 63-game suspension this season.
German was placed on leave Spet. 19 following an allegation of domestic violence, so he is credited for serving the suspension on the nine final regular-season games and nine postseason games the Yankees played. German also will make a contribution to Sanctuary for Families, a New York City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding victims of domestic violence, according to an MLB statement. As part of the policy, German will also have to undergo treatment and evaluation supervised by the Joint Policy Board.
The 27-year old was alleged to have had a physical altercation with Mara Vega, his girlfriend and mother of his two children, last year at or after an event honoring
teammate CC Sabathia. The incident, which was reported to the league by a third party, was enough that the Yankees were confident at the time of his suspension that German was done for the season and was likely facing a “significant,” suspension in the 2020 season.
Last month at the Winter Meetings, Yankees GM Brian Cashman deferred comment as he had since the news broke. Thursday, they issued a statement that said they supported the suspension and there would be no further comment from the team.
“We remain steadfast in our support of Major League
Baseball’s investigative process and the disciplinary action taken regarding Domingo Germán. Domestic violence — in any form — is a gravely serious matter that affects every segment of our society. Major League Baseball has taken the lead in our industry to make domestic violence awareness and prevention a priority, and we will continue to back those efforts. We are encouraged by Domingo’s acceptance of his discipline, and we sincerely hope this indicates a commitment to making a meaningful and positive change in his personal conduct.
“As per the Basic Agreement’s
Joint Domestic Violence Policy, the Club will have no further comment on this matter and refer all questions to the Office of the Commissioner,” the team’s statement said.
The Yankees, of course, have experience with this issue. In 2015 when the Dodgers backed out of a deal with the Reds to acquire Aroldis Chapman after news broke he was being investigated under the domestic violence policy, the Yankees swooped in to trade for the closer. Chapman was suspended for the first 30 games of the 2016 season.
So the team will be prepared when German is eventually back in pinstripes.
He would not be eligible to return until June 5, when the Yankees return to the Bronx to host the Rays.
German had a breakout start to the 2019 season. He went 18-4 with a 4.05 ERA last season before being moved to the bullpen. The Yankees were planning to use him in a piggyback situation with Sabathia down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs when he was suspended.
He could fit in to the backend of the Yankees rotation now or fill a valuable swing role in the bullpen. The Yankees have already fortified their rotation by adding the best arm available in Gerrit Cole and are expecting to have a healthy Luis Severino to anchor a rotation that also has Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton. The Yankees also have J.A. Happ, coming off a disappointing first year of a two-year, $34 million deal. The Bombers have been looking to move Happ and the $17 million he is owed next season, because they also have lefty Jordan Montgomery expected back to full strength after 2018 Tommy John surgery and prospects Deivi Garcia and Michael King pushing their way into the picture.