As MLB prepares for a 60-game 2020 season, there will be a lot of changes to the game. The shorter season specifically impacts the New York Yankees and right-handed pitcher Domingo German.
German is serving a suspension handed down by MLB after a domestic violence dispute took place in September 2019. Although the league suspended him for 81 games, the sentence is technically 63 games. That is a result of the fact that German sat out the end of 2019 on administrative leave while the investigation took place. German was set to serve the remainder in 2020.
As pointed out Friday by the New York Daily News, this means that German is unable to pitch in 2020 as there are not enough games in the season to finish serving his suspension. While this seems obvious, it is information that is getting lost in the shuffle.
What This Means
The Yankees were expecting to get Domingo German back around June to provide depth to their pitching staff. Pitching depth has been a concern for the team over the past few seasons. They will already be without Luis Severino this season, but have received good news in way of James Paxton.
Paxton was recovering from back surgery, and he made it known in late-May that his recovery has gone well.
German broke out early in 2019, and he finished the season with a 18-4 record, leading the league in winning percentage. While his 4.03 ERA indicates that he was helped out by the Yankees potent offense, he struck out 153 batters in 143 innings pitched with a 3.92 K/BB ratio and a 1.147 WHIP.
It is certainly a loss to go without German for the entire 2020 season. However, they will benefit from the shortened season, in this situation. Their pitching depth is in a better spot since they will not be playing the full-162 game season.
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