Domingo German, the young pitching star who was having a breakout season for the Yankees, was placed on administrative leave under the joint domestic violence policy Thursday as MLB investigates the issue that was brought to them. German is on leave for seven days with the possibility of it being extended as needed.
MLB’s Department of Investigations has begun an inquiry into the matter, but according to a league source, there is no police report and the incidents were reported directly to the league.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, the only Yankee official who spoke before Thursday’s game against the Angels at Yankee Stadium, said he had heard rumors of something but was not officially told until Thursday afternoon.
“I learned on the drive (to the ballpark) that he was going on the administrative leave,” Boone said. “I heard some whispers and what not, but is is a Major League Baseball investigation and issue, so we’re just trying to be as cooperative as we can while this goes on.”
Boone said both he and GM Brian Cashman would address the team before Thursday night game. Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner refused additional comment when they came out of the clubhouse after speaking to the team. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred was also at the Stadium Thursday and did not add a comment.
The team issued a statement immediately after MLB announced the 27-year old was being put on leave.
“We fully support all measures being undertaken by the Commissioner’s Office pursuant to the Policy on Domestic Violence,” the Yankees said in a statement. “We support this policy which reinforces that domestic violence has no place in our society and cannot be tolerated. We have followed the lead of Major League Baseball and will continue to provide our complete cooperation throughout the investigative process. We reserve any further comment until the investigation reaches its conclusion. All questions pertaining to this matter should be directed to the Office of the Commissioner.”
The Yankees and baseball, however, have a dubious record when it comes to domestic violence. Their process is conducted behind closed doors and every player who has been put on administrative leave or served a suspension has returned to play. The Yankees, in fact, traded for Aroldis Chapman a deal between the Reds and Dodgers fell through because of his domestic violence incident and suspension.
But Boone personally said he weighs the seriousness of the situation over the game on the field.
“This is something that set baseball aside, this is a bigger issue obviously and something that when you hear the words domestic violence, it’s one of the things that (it) stops you in your tracks,” Boone said. “So set baseball aside, we just want to be a part of… and I give major league baseball and the player’s association credit for doing their part several years ago trying to be ahead of this and putting disciplinary action in place to hopefully being a part of the solution to what is a problem in our society obviously.”
German was not at the Stadium on Thursday and Boone said he does not believe that he can have contact with the team during the period of the investigation. The Yankees’ clubhouse was quiet and with a late report time there were very few players in there before the game.
German pitched on Wednesday. He came in and pitched two-plus innings in relief of CC Sabathia in the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Angels as the Yankees were trying to limit his workload in preparation for the playoffs.
An industry source said when asked the team is “very concerned,” that German will indeed now be ineligible for the playoffs. If that is the case, it is a huge blow to the Yankees hopes to win a World Series this season. The Yankees were contemplating German as a possible opener or high-leverage reliever in the playoffs. This comes 48 hours after they lost Dellin Betances for the playoffs because of a partially-torn Achilles tendon.
“I guess we’ll wait and see what ultimately comes down. But we have to certainly make plans like he may not be a part of it,” Boone said. “In that way when you’re talking about plans for postseason and things like that it does turn into like losing a player to injury or whatever. It’s part of the pie that we’re dealing with as we move forward in making evaluations and determinations and formulating our roster and things like that. This is another piece to that.”
To replace German, the Yankees signed right-hander Michael King to a major league contract and added him to the active roster. Their options are limited.
German, 27, is is 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 24 starts in his third season with the Yankees.
