NEW YORK – There’s a possibility that Tuesday night’s game during the second Subway Series at Yankee Stadium might have been Domingo German‘s last game with the Yankees rotation in his pinstripes. While his position as the starter looks uncertain as Nestor Cortes is ready to return, a trade possibility involving him can’t be ruled out.
As usual, Domingo German showed his inconsistency, striking out nine Mets but also giving up three home runs, two of which were hit by Pete Alonso. Unfortunately, the Yankees lost the game 9-3 in front of a crowd of 46,540 fans.
In total, Domingo German, who will be turning 31 next week, was held responsible for six runs in six innings, causing his ERA to increase to 4.77.
The trade deadline for MLB is coming up quickly, and the Yankees, who are currently not in the playoff window, are in need of some assistance. In order to get the offensive boost they need, they might have to make some changes and move certain players from the current active roster. This creates a possibility of downgrading or trading Domingo German.
Yankees’ rotation decision may exclude Domingo German
On this upcoming Friday, the New York Yankees will be faced with a crucial decision as they prepare to welcome back their left-handed pitcher, Nestor Cortes, from the injured list. Cortes has been on the road to recovery after sustaining a shoulder injury earlier in the year, and this setback has had a notable impact on his performance. However, manager Aaron Boone mentioned on Tuesday that he would not be going to implement a six-man rotation.
During the 2022 season, the 28-year-old starter displayed excellent form, delivering a career-high 158.1 innings pitched with an impressive 2.44 ERA, 3.63 xFIP, 9.27 strikeouts per nine, an 82.8% left-on-base rate, and a 33.5% ground ball rate. However, as the 2023 season commenced, Cortes experienced a dip in his stats, recording a 5.16 ERA, 5.05 xFIP, 8.95 strikeouts per nine, a 68.2% left-on-base rate, and a 25.9% ground ball rate over 59.1 innings. Despite these setbacks, there is hope that his full recovery will play a significant role in helping him overcome these challenges and secure his spot back in the starting rotation.
At this juncture, the Yankees find themselves in a challenging position with three potential options to demote: Domingo German, Luis Severino, and Clarke Schmidt.
Domingo German, aged 30, has struggled with a 4.77 ERA, 9.55 strikeouts per nine, and a career-low 63.7% left-on-base rate over 103.2 innings. Despite achieving a Perfect Game earlier in the season, German’s performance has been inconsistent, raising concerns about his reliability as a key asset. Notably, his ERA for both June and July reached 5.67 and 5.64, respectively, and he recently conceded six earned runs and three home runs on six hits against the Mets.
Given the current momentum, the Yankees might be considering a move to shift Domingo German to the bullpen. However, an equally compelling case can be made for Luis Severino to step into his place.
In the pivotal year of his contract, Severino’s performance has been less than ideal, with a concerning 6.46 ERA, 7.45 strikeouts per nine, a 68.1% left-on-base rate, and a career-high 18.4% HR/FB ratio over 54.1 innings. Struggling to find his groove, Severino has been unable to effectively outmatch hitters due to a lack of pitch break. However, he had a good game against the Royals.
Now, shifting our focus to Clarke Schmidt, the 27-year-old pitcher who has been making remarkable strides and appears to be the most promising candidate to secure a spot in the rotation. Throughout the current season, Schmidt has pitched for 99.2 innings, boasting a respectable 4.33 ERA, 8.76 strikeouts per nine, a solid 71.8% left-on-base rate, and an impressive 42.8% ground ball rate. Notably, he managed an exceptional 3.04 ERA in June, with a slight increase to 4.15 in July. When comparing these numbers to Domingo German and Severino, Schmidt clearly outperforms both, presenting Manager Aaron Boone with an easy and favorable decision.
Again if the choice falls between Domingo German and Severino, the former faces the prospect of losing his place on the rotation.
Is Domingo German a trade candidate?
If Domingo German remains with the team, he could be transitioning to a relief role, even though he achieved a perfect game earlier this year. However, With the Yankees facing a surplus of starters soon and the Dodgers in need of a starting pitcher, a potential trade involving Domingo German should be considered by the Yankees.
Through an interpreter, Domingo German conveyed that he is not at all concerned about losing his spot in the Yankees’ rotation. He emphasized that his main focus is to prepare himself for the next start.
If the right-handed pitcher, Domingo German, leaves before the August 1 deadline, he will depart as a talented but mysterious player, leaving some unanswered questions about his abilities.
Last month, Domingo German accomplished the remarkable feat of pitching a perfect game, and in 2019, he won an impressive 18 games. However, when considering his entire career, which spans parts of six big-league seasons, he currently holds a 4.45 ERA.
In addition to his achievements and career, it’s important to mention that he has faced two MLB suspensions. One was for using an illegal substance, and the other, which was more severe, was for violating MLB’s domestic abuse policy.
On Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, scouts from different MLB clubs were present and witnessed Domingo German making a mistake with a sloppy 0-2 change-up over the plate. Alonso took advantage of this and hit a two-out, three-run homer in the third inning.
Manager Aaron Boone commented that it wasn’t the right pitch in that spot. He pointed out that Domingo German encountered difficulty with a couple of balls that fell into the outfield.
Domingo German acknowledged that he missed his intended location and mentioned that it was a matter of not executing well in key situations, which resulted in him coming up short.
Regarding Domingo German’s performance, it was observed that his “stuff seemed pretty good (Tuesday),” but he was negatively impacted by the long ball, causing some challenges in the game.
His inconsistency may force the Yankees to do away with him.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
Keep German, trade Severino.
German to the Cubs as part of a Bellinger deal could work.