The Yankees announced a couple of roster moves between games of today’s double-header against the Astros. Right-hander Domingo Germán was reinstated from the 60-day injured list, with fellow righty Ryan Weber being designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Germán, 29, is starting the second game of the twin bill, which will be his season debut. He’s been on the injured list all season due to shoulder issues. That’s the latest in a series of setbacks that have kept him from living up to the promise he showed a few years ago. In 2019, he threw 143 innings with a 4.03 ERA, 25.8% strikeout rate, 6.6% walk rate and 38.1% ground ball rate.
However, in September of that year, he was placed on administrative leave for violating the Joint MLB-MLBPA Domestic Violence Policy. He missed the entirety of the 2020 campaign while serving his suspension. He returned in 2021 but was limited by shoulder issues to 98 1/3 innings, with his ERA jumping to 4.58 in that stretch.
He recently began a rehab assignment and has been getting stretched out as a starter, throwing six innings in his last outing. He likely has a chance to stick around for a while, as long as he performs well enough. The Yankees have had incredible health in their rotation this year but recently suffered their first injury setback. Luis Severino was placed on the 15-day IL last week with a lat strain and likely won’t begin throwing again until August, manager Aaron Boone told Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.
For now, he’ll slot into the rotation behind Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Jameson Taillon and Jordan Montgomery. His performance and Severino’s health could determine how long he sticks around, though there’s also the possibility of the club adding an arm before the August 2 trade deadline. The Yankees have already been connected to Luis Castillo, the top available hurler. Germán still has an option and can be sent down if he gets nudged from the rotation.
As for Weber, he’s bounced on and off the roster all season, with this being the third time he’s been designated for assignment by the Yanks this year. The previous two instances, he cleared waivers and stuck with the team, later getting selected back to the bigs. In between those transactions, he’s thrown 7 2/3 innings in the big leagues with a 1.17 ERA. His 7.7% strikeout rate is very low, but he’s limited walks to a miniscule 3.8% rate and is getting ground balls at a decent 60.9% clip. He’s also thrown 24 2/3 Triple-A innings on the year, with a 2.55 ERA, 18.8% strikeout rate, 1% walk rate and 47.4% grounder rate. The Yankees will have one week to trade him, pass him through waivers or release him. If he clears waivers, he will have the right to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency, but might just stick with Yanks, based on precedent.
German will likely become a reliever. Just don’t see him panning out as an sp with injuries and such. Might also be part of a return at trade deadline.
I don’t have high hopes for German. I think he was a flash in the pan.
fdgh
Gesundheit.
I fear that you were right
With Chapman back it looks like the Domestic Duo have been reunited.
Sign Roberto Osuna and then you got the three stooges
Riley Greene is such a star
Crazy how quickly careers derail at times. I remember seeing him early in his career and thinking the Yankees had a really nice rotation piece (right at the time the Angels had none).
Now, he’s either suspended or hurt all the time.
German is an overrated pitcher who serves up long balls like party favors and who benefited from high run support in his mirage season of 2019 (his FIP was 4.72). Another guy with “great stuff” who can’t pitch.
I like that last line. Applies to a lot of guys.
When they’re young, they’re easy to dream on. To think they’ll figure it out. German, like many others, hasn’t.
Weber shall return.
Does that mean Nestor has to give up the nickname “Nasty” ?
Dump German or trade him and bring back Weber. He could have better than German has in his first inning back
Poor Ryan Weber. I wonder if he even fully unpacks his bags when he gets re-signed / recalled to big league club? With the new limits in place, he has to be really close to his maximum call ups for the season. Maybe he has one more left? Who knows if Germán will be able to stay healthy and/or perform well once he’s here. This is why the Yankees need to trade for an established starter at the deadline. 2 injuries to their starting pitching core and they are in a lot of trouble, especially in a playoff series. There’s only so many times you can go on short rest, especially with 3 of their current starters already close to their career highs in innings pitched and/or already well beyond that.
They’d be better off with Weber than with German, a long ball ATM who should’ve been traded long ago. Do you know how many qualified pitchers have a worse HR/9 from 2018-2021? Two.
What is your opinion of Clarke Schmidt? He might have been a better option than German.
Better than German, but I don’t see why Taillon and Cortes were saved for the Baltimore series when this Houston series had possible playoff implications.
The only thing I can think of is that maybe both Houston and NY were not using their best pitchers so the opposition could not get a good look at them. That should theoretically help if they meet in the playoffs. Houston did not use Verlander and NY did not use Cole. Maybe they value this more than home field advantage. Just a thought.
German pitched just 10 inning plus at AAA level, and the Yankees rushed him into starting against the Astros. to only give up 5 runs in three innings. Who made that decision?
Somebody who thought home field advantage in the postseason didn’t matter, apparently. Incredibly stupid. Both Taillon and Cortes were available.
I agree, first thing I thought of.German Is not particularly good anyway, and why would you throw him out there first thing against the best opponent that you have this year. Pretty much guarantees a loss. Almost anybody else they could’ve thrown out that would’ve been better. Another brilliant decision by the Yankees Front office.
I think they’re using German to manage Cortes, Sevy, and Taillon innings limits and showcase him (albeit poorly) to make a deal for another SP.
Boonedoggle on the typical Yankee pitcher this year:
He’s been great, that’s why I’m overusing him.