Right-hander Domingo German was released by the Pirates this week, per the transaction log at MiLB.com. He’d been pitching with their Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. Robert Murray of FanSided reports that German exercised an opt-out clause in his contract, prompting the release. The Bucs remain open to bringing him back, per Murray — presumably on a new minor league pact.
German, 31, has started ten games in Indy and pitched to a 5.36 ERA with a below-average 20.6% strikeout rate and a bloated 12.6% walk rate. However, a good portion of the damage against German came in one brutal outing that saw him yield eight runs (seven earned) in just five frames. In six starts since that ugly outing, he’s logged a more palatable 3.60 ERA with slightly improved strikeout and walk rates of 22.7% and 10.9%.
German’s entire big league career has been spent in a Yankees uniform. He pitched parts of six seasons in the Bronx, logging 522 1/3 innings of 4.41 ERA ball while working primarily out of the starting rotation. He’s had a fair bit of big league success but also saw his time with the Yankees marred by off-the-field issues.
In 2020, German was suspended for 81 games under the MLB-MLBPA joint domestic violence policy. He did not pitch in the shortened 2020 season as a result. German also missed the final portion of the 2023 season after “voluntarily submitting to inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse” (as announced by the Yankees at the time) following an incident in which he was reportedly intoxicated in the clubhouse. Earlier in the 2023 season, he also served a 10-game suspension in 2023 after an umpire ruled that the pitcher had violated MLB’s foreign substance policy on the mound.
The Pirates are relatively deep in rotation options, even with Jared Jones, Bailey Falter and Johan Oviedo currently on the injured list. Pittsburgh’s rotation currently includes Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Martin Perez, Quinn Priester and Marco Gonzales. Righty Luis Ortiz and top prospect Braxton Ashcraft give the Bucs further options, with Ashcraft in particular in the midst of a breakout season between Double-A and Triple-A. Falter is on the shelf with tendinitis in his left triceps and isn’t presently expected to be in for a lengthy absence. Jones was shut down for two weeks in early July after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 lat strain. It’s not yet clear when he’s expected to resume throwing off a mound, let alone return to the big league staff. Oviedo underwent Tommy John surgery in the offseason and will be out until 2025.
Not sure if there’s a team desperate enough to give hm an MLB chance, especially with the character questions… dodgers maybe?
Never can tell. I was surprised the Pirates gave him a shot.
Dano
A team will almost certainly give him a chance. They don’t even have to be desperate
@CBeisbol if that is the case, then why isn’t Bauer signed? I can’t take your comment seriously knowing a CY Young winner can’t get a job in MLB, but German could? Both have personal issues outside of baseball and draws a negative reaction to them. If he lands a MLB contract and not a MiLB contract, then there is belief that a team desperate would sign Bauer.
@cbeisbol that went with your comment about a team will sign German to a MLB contract. My reference is that both German and Bauer are very similar situations. How one would get a MLB contract and another plays in Mexico, doesn’t make much sense for many within the MLB community. I am not saying Bauer is deserving of a MLB contract or German for that matter. Just saying, both guys have off field issues of the same criminal nature. German has admitted his faults and has taken proper steps forward. Bauer on the other hand, hasn’t accepted responsibility for his actions, but has taken steps forward. Bauer may feel like he’s lying about accepting fault and his ex-girlfriend said the choking was during intimacy. So is Bauer wrong for not admitting at fault for abuse?
All bones aside, I sure hope Domingo has conquered his personal demons. Addiction is a helluva beast and no loving family deserves the rough water that comes with the turf.
I’ll drink to that.
Amen to that. His health is the most important thing in his life. If Sober, or trying to be, deserves another chance.
I’m praying he sticks with Near Beer.
Desperation is signing Trevor Bauer to a contract, signing this pitcher is hardly in the same ballpark
An alcoholic domestic abuser who’s not nearly as talented as Bauer isn’t desperation, but Bauer would be?
Yes and the reason is simple
Bauer has been determined to be too much of a liability to sign to a contract
The accusations against him outweigh those of a pitcher rehabilitating his domestic abuses
Bauer has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and responsibility for his actions
Wait, you’re saying someone that admitted to domestic abuse and a drinking problem is worse than someone that has yet to have been proven to have done anything wrong?
What a backwards way of thinking. Glad you aren’t in charge of the justice system. Guilty until proven innocent says TheMan!!!! lol
*isn’t worse.
Buctober
“Glad you aren’t in charge of the justice system”
I’m glad YOU aren’t in charge of the justice system since you obviously have no idea what it is or isn’t
The accusations against him have proven to be false though.
Bauer has also been dominant in 2024 whereas German struggled in AAA for the Pirates.
mrm
“The accusations against him have proven to be false though.”
A lot of people say this.
None of them can ever bank it up, can you?
So by your logic, Bauer has to lie and say he did something wrong to return to MLB? But German, who actually was proven to have done something wrong is perfectly alright?
RE BBD
whenever someone uses the word “prove”, be very skeptical. They probably don’t know what they are talking about
@bringback
As much as I dislike Trevor and until more evidence comes out to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he’s guilty of what has been alleged he should still be in the mlb. As of right now only thing Trevor is guilty of is being an insufferable brick and a complete bell end.
use duckduckgo and search for “bauer accuser proven false”.
apnews.com/article/mlb-trevor-bauer-accuser-fraud-…
mrm
“use duckduckgo and search for “bauer accuser proven false”.
I did. Nothing decent came up
So, again, what did you see that you believe proved Bauer innocent
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11217093/Trevor-Bauer…
b-b
A person does not have to have been found guilty of a crime to be denied employment
@cbeisbol
Well it’s a good thing here that it’s innocent until proven guilty, because proving innocent is a much higher burden than reasonable doubt. By no means is Trevor an innocent man but only 2 people know what happened that night and what evidence there is wasn’t enough. Not sure if everything was dismissed or dismissed with prejudice but either way technically he is innocent because he was never proven guilty.
MrM
Wait!
So, you think an allegation against her proves her guilty?
By that logic, Bauer, too, must be guilty, no?
People are so bad at this
@cbeisbol
Can’t argue that point because one it’s true and second I never brought up employment so not sure we’re gonna argue about that
b-b
He is legally innocent, yes
He has never been “proven innocent”
b-b
You very much brought up Bauer’s employment
“he should still be in the mlb.”
@cbeisbol
That’s my opinion, and he was employed then got terminated for things he didn’t do, by those merits I do believe he should still be employed. however the mlb isn’t a regular employer and they have different rules and it’s up to 30 mlb teams to offer employment now and it’s there right to do so or not.
Long and short it doesn’t matter what I think is fair and right, employers of any field have the right to hire and fire whoever they want for whatever they want (with exceptions to discrimination laws). Also Trevor brought this upon himself for being such a bell end before all the allegations no one is going to touch him with the added baggage of being scum in the court of public opinion
SOME of the accusations against him have been proven to be false, not all. Until he or MLB release the transcript of the arbitration hearing, where the only person to have seen all the evidence felt the longest suspension in MLB History was appropriate, will any one, including you, have the knowledge to provide any insight. Bauer hasn’t commented, because he knows MLB would counter with what their investigation turned up. He doesn’t want that info public.
Which one of the many accusers is this?
It’s not an allegation, there was enough for criminal charges to be filed.
Try and read the articles linked.
No, he is not guilty in the eyes of the law. That is not the same thing as innocent. I believe the case was dropped because it was too much he said, she said and too difficult to prove either way. More has come out since it was dropped. I’m sure it was not just coincidence that others also accused him. Perhaps the MLB investigation turned up even more that did not go public.
The Hill accusations are obviously, undeniably false. She is now being charged for defrauding Bauer. And fraudsters would also believe that – hey, I can also accuse Bauer of the same thing and get my $$ bag.
Mrm
“It’s not an allegation, there was enough for criminal charges to be filed.
Try and read the articles linked”
Jesus
Try to understand basic legal terminology
She has been accused, but not found guilty, correct?
Bauer was accused but not found guilty, correct?
Thus, if you want to call her guilty, which you shouldn’t, you have to also call Bauer guilty.
Either way, Bauer DEFINITELY has NOT BEEN PROVEN INNOCENT
Right?
Mm
“The Hill accusations are obviously, undeniably false”
Wrong
I wouldn’t cite daily mail. Thats like citing the national inquirer.
They are both psycho-dingbat attention seeking wingnuts that’s why nothing could be determined one way or the other. They both went into that relationship to meet their own selfish needs, and I guess this is what happens: self-immolation on both sides.
@ignorant. Yeah, plus they both ugly.
@Brodie Bauer was never found guilty or innocent. That is done through a criminal court which Bauer has not been in front of.
Bauer only went to Civil Court, which the standard is far less than beyond a reasonable doubt. It is also not a trial determining guilt or innocence. It is structured to determine monetary damages or solve monetary disputes.
CBeisbol, did you just admit you prefer a system where you’re guilty until proven innocent? At least I know that ours functions the opposite of that. Worst attempt at an insult of all time lmao. You just outed yourself as an idiot.
That’s also quite the radical view. Just like TheMan, I’m glad you aren’t in charge of anything within the justice system. Go live in a Communist country and you’ll get your wish for how it operates. Until then, have fun getting made fun of regularly for comments like you’re making lol.
Buc
“CBeisbol, did you just admit you prefer a system where you’re guilty until proven innocent? ”
No. Not at all. What are you even talking about?
A lot of, well, since you brought the word up, “idiots” can’t differentiate between a legal system which, to me anyway, has to operate under “innocent until proven guilty” and a person’s opinion which very much doesn’t.
Like, one can think that someone is guilty of a crime – that more likely than not they committed the act – but not believe that sufficient evidence has been shown to make that person legally guilty.
That’s a “nuance” that a lot of people, maybe even you, Buc, don’t seem to be able to grasp, even if it’s not complicated in the slightest.
@tigers3242
I was more referring to Trevor’s criminal cases which were dismissed and commenting on the criminal side, but you are correct that in civil proceedings it’s the preponderance of the evidence (I.e. majority vote decides) which is a much lower bar.
I have nuance on the topic. I think it’s likely Bauer didn’t do anything illegal. You don’t think he should be able to make a living at the highest level because you “think” he did something wrong. You are the problem, not the solution.
@brodie If you are referring to criminal cases, why are you saying Bauer was found innocent?? No cases were dismissed, charges were not filed, so there was nothing to dismiss or him to be judged upon in criminal court.
And that by no means makes him innocent nor does it make him guilty. It just means the prosecutor did not deem there was enough evidence.
CBeisbol,
Everything you’ve said in this little thread has been made fun of, and rightfully so. You’re being so transparent in your selective application of your “reasoning”. You aren’t being consistent and got called out for it.
What was “the crap”? You are treating Bauer like he’s guilty even though he’s been found guilty of NOTHING or admitted to NOTHING. German has done way worse than Bauer, but you’re okay with him pitching in the league? Zero rationality for that. Just admit you have a weird hatred for Bauer compared to German and we’ll all move on.
“Either way, Bauer DEFINITELY has NOT BEEN PROVEN INNOCENT”
You’re pretending to have nuance and dance around actually saying it, but you said you don’t think he should be allowed to pitch in the league (used the phrase denied employment). That fact right there proves that you think he’s guilty. If you didn’t think he was guilty you wouldn’t have any problem with him pitching in the league.
I can’t wait for the “blah, blah blah, you don’t know what nuance is or how the justice system works!” Save it for someone with a low IQ like yourself. I actually went to law school and understand quite clearly how it works. Just take the “L” and move on.
Since you blocked me because I owned you, I’ll reply to my own post and see if you see it:
CBeisbol, simple yes or no on the following:
Do you think Bauer is likely guilty of a crime?
Do you think he should be able to pitch in the league again?
Since you keep dancing around both, I’ll ask you straight up. Doubt you’ll answer because it’s obvious you’re a little person with some insecurity issues.
You do you, I don’t want you to get a headache by actually thinking.
Not only did I enroll and attend law school, I actually worked in professional baseball for a bit several years back, but I bet I’m making that up as well hahahahaha.
I brought receipts, you’ve got nothing.
They have a video in the article, do you not believe your own ears and eyes?
And I see you have zero sources to counter their article.
You went to law school and you happened to have worked in professional baseball. Yeah I ll call B.S. on that combination. After 8 yrs of law school one gets a job in law nearly always. Unless of course one can’t pass the Bar Exam year after year….
Regardless not sure how any of that is even relevant. What is an unequivocal fact is Bauer has not been found innocent nor has he been found guilty.
Tigers, law school is only 3 years. Not sure where you got 8 from. Also, tons of people that work in baseball have law degrees. Outside of obvious backgrounds in Accounting and Finance departmets, almost everyone in Front Offices have one of four backgrounds: Law, Mathematics/Analytics, MBA/Sport Management, or was a former player.
Personally, I decided I didn’t want to be a lawyer (I was doing it to work in sports anyways). I decided to go get my MBA, worked in sports for a few years (including for an MLB Front Office), but then decided I’d rather just be a fan and left the sports industry to work for a Fortune 500 company.
Lastly, you’re kind of right, but not totally. In this country you’re presumed innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, Bauer is innocent until he’s proven guilty in a court of law (and then through the appeal process). You don’t have to prove your innocence. It’s the burden of the accuser and the state to prove your guilt. This is basic stuff.
Ok 7 years with undergrad. And front offices employ marketing, accounting, H&R, etc. And the lawyers they fo here likely have experience. But don’t really care on the matter.
As for Bauer it reas stated that “he eas proven innocent” again he was not proven anything by a court of law.
He wasn’t “proven innocent”, but he’s “presumed innocent” in a legal sense. So right now as of this moment, he’s innocent.
Btw, I said accounting, but most HR and Marketing employees didn’t major in that. It’s irrelevant to the convo, but just letting you know from experience (you probably know this to be true in your profession as well).
No mention of the perfect game he threw – last year?
Denny McClain became the first pitcher in a generation to win 30 games in 1968 and followed that up with another Cy Young award winner in 1969 but by 1971 his gambling habits and association with the underworld basically ended his career
Even winning 31 games didn’t matter so why would pitching a perfect game matter?
No one cares about what they once did, only matters what they can do now
Except the author is talking about what happened with German in 2023…..both before and after he blanked the AAA’s.
But cool, Denny McClain.
Nah! I mean, THATS probably not relevant, right? Lol
Let him go
I can see Mendoza wanting to give him a shot with buddy Severino babysitting him. Watch out for the Dodgers and the Astros and never count out a reunion with the Yankees. They love reclamation projects.
Pirates wanted the German to go down to minors for rehab starts and he said: “nein, nein, nein!”
Sure hope art school works out…
He should’ve thrown to Ozuna in the derby.
Jokes aside, hope he’s staying in the path to recovery.
Not a big deal at all. Worth a shot, but not really a need for him at the moment. The article didn’t even mention Jake Woodford for even more depth for the Pirates. German would be better off going to a rebuilding team that needs arms instead of a team with one of the deepest rotations in baseball.
White Sox will almost surely sign him to replace Crochet or Fedde in the rotation once they’re dealt.
Beats the snot out of wife, but still gets to play M.L.B , but Bauer ? Are the rules color coded ?
Like Barry Bonds when his contract expired, Bauer and his story are too hot, too much in the public eye for any MLB team to employ him. Guilty or not guilty isn’t the question, it’s the salaciousness of the story. He was always a “different” personality, this was known coming out of UCLA however his kink, what he views as consensual becoming a huge public story, I don’t think anyone comes back from that.
To that point German and Bauer are not the same, not even remotely close, Ozuna or Urias are the comparable situations and both of them got a second chance. I think we will ultimately see however Urias doesn’t get a third.
Yes, Ozuna was just in H.R derby, I think it’s color coded. The Bauer story may have been big news out west, not a peep about it in the mid west.
All that baggage and yet no one gives Trevor Bauer a shot….a guy who can still pitch.
What? Being employed in Mexico doesn’t count? His actions contributed to his current trajectory. Please blame everyone else.
Free Trevor