The Pittsburgh Pirates have designated ex-Yankees pitcher Domingo German for assignment, effectively ending his short tenure with the team. His stint with the Pirates included seven appearances, two of which were starts.
German’s last appearance came in a disastrous game on Wednesday when the Pirates were no-hit by three Chicago Cubs pitchers in a 12-0 rout at Wrigley Field. The ex-Yankees perfect pitcher struggled mightily, lasting just three innings while surrendering six earned runs on nine hits.
This places German in a select group of only three pitchers who have both achieved a perfect game and been on the losing side of a no-hitter. The other two members of this exclusive club are Don Larsen and Randy Johnson.
Overall, the former Yankees pitcher posted a 7.84 ERA with Pittsburgh in seven appearances. A stark downturn from his initial promise, which included a standout six-inning shutout performance against Texas on August 21, inconsistency plagued his time with the Pirates.
German’s MLB career has been marked by both remarkable achievements and serious setbacks, primarily during his years with the New York Yankees. His career highlight was a perfect game last summer in Oakland, only the fourth in Yankees history. Yet, his 2019 breakout season, where he led the majors with an 18-4 record, was marred by a domestic violence suspension that sidelined him for 81 games between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Can German be the Yankees’ closer?
Over his career, German has accumulated a record of 31 wins and 29 losses, with an overall ERA of 4.54. While his past accomplishments might attract interest from other teams in 2025, his opportunities in the major leagues appear to be dwindling.
In six seasons with the Yankees (2017-19, 2021-23), German compiled a 31-28 record with a 4.41 ERA. His time in New York ended controversially when he was placed on the restricted list after opting to undergo inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse. Following his removal from the Yankees’ 40-man roster in November, Germán cleared waivers and signed with the Pirates.
As the news of his DFA by the Pirates became public, Talkin’ Yanks posted on X “Found our closer!”
Yankees fans immediately joined the rant with mixed responses. One Time Sports wanted the team to give him a chance, “Can’t possibly be worse than Clay lol.. give him a shot! well not a shot but a chance because he’s a recovering alcoholic.” Some fans supported this idea.
However, others poked fun at the idea.
