Yankees demote Domingo Germán following Saturday’s game

Domingo Germán impressed the Yankees in spring training after not pitching all of 2020 due to his suspension for domestic violence. Unfortunately for Germán, spring training can easily deceive, and sure enough, once the calendar flipped to April and games that actually counted, he got smoked.

Both the Blue Jays and Rays weren’t fooled, and he allowed seven earned runs across just seven innings, giving up an eye-popping four homers in the process. For those keeping score at home, that’s an ERA of 9.00 and a HR/9 of 5.14. As a great manager once said, “It’s not what you want.”

So after Germán’s latest dismal showing on Saturday and with the team in dire of fresh arms, the Yankees demoted him to the alternate site. As noted by James Wagner of the New York Times, the Yankees don’t actually need a fifth starter for awhile since they have a pair of scheduled off-days over the next couple weeks. Perhaps Germán would have stuck around for another turn if the Yankees didn’t have those off-days. But, well, they do.

The Yankees didn’t announce a corresponding move, so it’s not yet clear who will come up to take Germán’s place, but expect a bullpen arm rather than Deivi García, who competed with Germán for a rotation spot throughout camp. Michael King hasn’t been down for 10 days yet since being optioned on April 6th, so unless there’s an injury, it won’t be him, either. Brendan Kuty of NJ.com tweeted that Albert Abreu is the only pitcher from the taxi squad who they can add, so that might be our Mystery Man.

Abreu struggled in spring and isn’t the most exciting option, but hey, the team just needs a fresh arm. Ideally, Jordan Montgomery just dominates the Rays as he did the Orioles his last time out and Abreu isn’t needed. A standout pitching performance against Tampa would be a breath of fresh air at this point, that’s for sure.

Update

Abreu is indeed the Mystery Man.