German on leave; playoffs iffy
NEW YORK — Yankees pitcher Domingo German was placed on administrative leave Thursday under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, casting doubt over whether the team’s top winner this season will be available for the playoffs.
“Set baseball aside, this is a bigger issue, obviously,” manager Aaron Boone said. “When you hear the words ‘domestic violence,’ it’s one of those things that stops you in your tracks.”
Details on what led to the action weren’t disclosed. MLB said the leave “may last up to seven days, barring an extension.”
A right-hander from the Dominican Republic who made his major-league debut in 2017, German entered this season with a 2-7 record in 14 starts and 14 relief appearances. He became a full-time member of the rotation after ace Luis Severino got hurt in spring training and is 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 24 starts and three relief appearances over 143 innings
German, 27, was shifted to the bullpen last week. The Yankees are limiting his innings since he threw only 94 last year.
German, who has a $577,500 salary, has the right to challenge the decision before an arbitrator. MLB can ask the union to extend administrative leave while it investigates.
German is not allowed to be around the team during the leave.
In German’s absence, the Yankees will formulate their postseason rotation from among Severino, Sabathia, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ.
“We have to certainly make plans like he may not a part of it,” Boone said.