The Pittsburgh Pirates will designate veteran pitcher Domingo Germán for assignment, per a report by FanSided’s Robert Murray. The move was necessary to make room for recent waiver claim Joey Wentz.
Sources: The Pittsburgh Pirates are designating Domingo German for assignment.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) September 5, 2024
Wentz, 26, arrived in Pittsburgh on Thursday evening. He may seem like a rather innocuous addition, but the Pirates want to get a look at him. Thus, Germán became a casualty.
Pirates to Designate Veteran Pitcher Domingo Germán for Assignment
The Pirates added Germán, 32, on a minor league deal in the offseason. He was selected to the major league roster on August 9. In seven games with the Pirates, which included two spot starts, Germán was 0-1 with a gaudy 7.84 ERA and 1.839 WHIP. He showed some promise at first. After four games, which included six innings of three-hit shutout ball against the Texas Rangers, he had an ERA of 1.50. However, then things unraveled. He gave up 16 earned runs in his last three outings, which covered 11 innings.
When the right-handed Germán’s contract was selected, it was a surprise. He hadn’t performed well in the minors and didn’t seem to fill a pressing need. Across two minor league levels, he had a 5.12 ERA and 1.431 WHIP. He walked 34 of 320 batters faced, for an unacceptable 10.6 percent walk rate. However, it was learned that August 9 was his opt-out date. The Pirates, who were in the National League Wild Card race at the time, may not have feared losing the pitcher as much as they feared Germán finding success with one of the other contenders.
However, with the need to open up a roster spot, Germán was the logical candidate to go. He was used infrequently and didn’t seem to have a role with the team.
The Last Word
Germán will probably get an opportunity with another team, although it may not come this year. The Pirates will place Germán on waivers, but there doesn’t seem to be much chance of the pitcher getting claimed.
Germán leaves the Pirates with a career record of 31-29 and a 4.54 ERA. He has a track record as a serviceable back-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. Of course, Germán will always be best known for tossing a perfect game against the Oakland Athletics on June 28, 2023. Perhaps more importantly, with a checkered past that scared away many suitors, he at least proved that he could get through an entire baseball season without incident. That will be no small consideration for other teams.
If you’re a betting man (or woman), here are two things: First, there should be another deal out there for Germán next year, although it’s sure to be another minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training. Second, every time you want to place a bet, put the money in a mutual fund instead. You’ll thank me in 10 years.
Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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