TAMPA – Domingo German remains a Yankee after serving a mandatory Major League Baseball suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence protocols, but that doesn’t mean his teammates should be satisfied.
Zack Britton said Thursday that he doesn’t expect an explanation from the German about what happened that led to the ban, but he also didn’t seem excited that he was still there.
“I think sometimes you can’t control who your teammates are and that’s the situation,” Britton said. “I do not agree with what he did. I don’t think he has a place in the game either off the pitch or at all. “
German and Britton attended the team’s minor league complex on Thursday and took part in the first training session of the spring after what has been a very turbulent year and a half for German.
The 28-year-old was suspended for 81 games last January after an incident with his girlfriend in September 2019. He lost all of 2020 and also appeared to be retiring from baseball in an Instagram post last season. passed before retrieving it.
At the time, on Wednesday, Aaron Boone said that, along with general manager Brian Cashman and bench coach Carlos Mendoza, they spoke German “welcoming” the team.
German continued with another cryptic message Wednesday night stating in Spanish that something was over, but later that night he deleted that message and wrote another one that said “I’m ready” in Spanish.
Boone said Thursday that he spoke German again about the messages on Instagram and acknowledged that it is worrisome.
“When I first heard it [Wednesday] at night and I saw it, they caught my eye, I was a little surprised and I immediately worried, “Boone said.” But I do have it. [it was] maybe a little out of context. A little overflowing. And I’m sure he’s doing well, he’s doing well and he’s ready to compete. “
He also warned, “but it’s something we’ll keep an eye on and, as best we can, we can make sure it’s in a good place. we express ourselves publicly “.
German figures will be in line to compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, along with a roster that includes Deivi Garcia, Clarke Schmidt and Jhoulys Chacin.
On Wednesday, Boone had said, “We think he’s in a good place and now it’s his turn to come out to resurrect his career and compete for a place on that team.”
German doesn’t make it any easier with repeated mistakes, from serious to less serious.
And of course, his teammates have noticed.
“I don’t think he owes me anything,” Britton said. “My job is to go out and do my job. So that’s my concern. But he owes me nothing. I think this will have to deal with itself and make better decisions in the future. “