Domingo German injury update underscores Yankees’ pitching failures

“You can never have enough pitching depth” might be the most oft-confirmed maxim in the history of baseball, but that hasn’t stopped the Yankees from challenging conventional wisdom annually.

The 2022 Yankees seem to be another in a long line of similar groups. At their peak, if every “bounce back” pans out? Yes, there’s enough pitching talent to dominate the AL East. Hell, Luis Severino isn’t even their projected ace! If you get five best-case scenario versions, you’ll be just fine.

Here’s the thing, though: that never happens and it has never happened. And now, just a few days after Domingo German — supposedly an invaluable piece of depth, considering how long the Yankees have stuck with him — reported to camp a little behind, he’s now been counted out for months

While Anthony Rizzo arrived on Thursday, German departed, heading to the 60-Day IL to deal with his now-serious shoulder injury.

Will the Yankees miss German during his absence? Theoretically.

Should they? No. They should’ve built enough not to miss him one bit.

Yankees add Domingo German to 60-Day IL, activate Anthony Rizzo

First, you learn a pitcher showed up to camp with shoulder soreness. Then, you learn his timeline is a little off. Then, you learn it’s way off.

Welcome to purgatory, Domingo German. Welcome to the open market, New York Yankees.

The Bombers are currently talking to the A’s about Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, if we’re to believe the latest set of rumors. They should’ve been on that train before German was injured, and they must stay on it now that someone who’s given them every off-field reason in the world to release them is now unavailable.

German’s 4.58 ERA in 98.1 innings notwithstanding, the Yankees seem informally “set,” but there’s a powder keg waiting to take nearly all of these names off the board. And, also, don’t you want a bit larger line of defense ahead of Michael King and Clarke Schmidt, in this scenario?

Domingo German never should’ve been in the 2022 Yankees’ rotation mix, and shouldn’t have been in the 2021 conversation either.

Ideally, him coming up lame will signal the change and depth-hoarding that should’ve taken place at the tail end of 2019.

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