Program
The New York Yankees have cut pitcher Domingo Germán, five months after his perfect game and three months after he began an alcohol treatment program.
Germán, 27, was suspended by Major League Baseball in September for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. He was placed on administrative leave and was not allowed to play or practice with the team until the investigation was completed.
The Yankees had been supportive of Germán throughout the process, but ultimately decided to part ways with him. The team released a statement saying, “We have made the difficult decision to release Domingo Germán from his contract. We believe this is in the best interests of both the team and Domingo.”
Germán had been one of the most promising young pitchers in the Yankees organization. He had a breakout season in 2019, when he went 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA and was named an All-Star. He also threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays in September of that year.
However, his career was derailed by off-field issues. In October, he entered an alcohol treatment program and was placed on the restricted list. He was also placed on administrative leave in September after MLB began investigating allegations of domestic violence.
The Yankees have not commented on the specifics of Germán’s release, but it appears that the team felt it was necessary to move on from him due to the off-field issues. It is a sad end to what could have been a promising career for Germán, and a reminder that even talented athletes can be derailed by off-field issues.
