Pirates agree to 1-year minor league deal with Domingo German, who pitched perfect game

The Pittsburgh Pirates continued to address their starting pitching depth by agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million minor-league contract Friday night with right-handed pitcher Domingo German, a source confirmed to TribLive.

The 31-year-old Dominican was 31-28 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while averaging 9.4 strikeouts and 2.8 walks per nine innings over six seasons with the New York Yankees.

On June 28, German became the 24th player in MLB history to pitch a perfect game, striking out nine batters and throwing strikes on 72 of his 99 pitches in an 11-0 win over the Oakland A’s at Oakland Coliseum.

German, however, missed the final two months of the season after voluntarily submitting to treatment for alcohol abuse following a clubhouse confrontation with Yankees manager Aaron Boone. German was placed on outright waivers Nov. 2.

That was the latest incident involving German, who has been suspended multiple times. He also was ejected for using an illegal substance last May 16, which drew a 10-game suspension he declined to appeal.

His best season was in 2019, when he went 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 143 innings over 27 appearances (24 starts) before being placed on leave pending an investigation of suspected domestic violence for an incident involving a girlfriend that September. German served an 81-game suspension, missing the rest of the regular season and the postseason and all of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Pirates are seeking to add to a starting rotation in which right-hander Mitch Keller and lefties Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales appear to be locked into three spots. Roansy Contreras, Bailey Falter, Jared Jones, Luis Ortiz and Quinn Priester are candidates for the other two spots. The Pirates also added veterans Eric Lauer and Chase Anderson for starting pitching depth.