Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

As MLB investigates Yankees pitcher Domingo German for an alleged domestic violence incident, multiple major league sources indicated that a significant suspension is a strong possibility.

Although hardly as important as the safety of the alleged victim, the Yankees fear that situation could end up costing the team one of its best players for the postseason. That fear is based on the strength of baseball's developing case against German.

MLB placed the pitcher on administrative leave on Thursday in order to investigate what was, according to sources, an alleged domestic incident that occurred late Monday or early Tuesday, following CC Sabathia's charity gala. The incident involved a girlfriend.

The leave can last up to seven days, but MLB has the right to extend it while gathering information and evaluating a possible suspension. Also, a player who appeals does not get "benefit of a stay," as a source worded it, meaning that German can't play while he's appealing.

Two sources said that the Players' Association, which has the right to contest an administrative leave, chose not to do so in this case.

An additional source said that German was not arrested, and there is no known video of the alleged incident. But there was enough evidence provided by a witness - who was not an MLB official - for the league to obtain an uncontested administrative leave.

Before Thursday's game, manager Aaron Boone noted that the situation had implications far more significant than a team's postseason roster.

"This is something that, baseball aside, this is a bigger issue, obviously," Boone said. "When you hear the words domestic violence, it's one of those things that stops you in your tracks. I give Major League Baseball and the Players' Association credit for doing their part in, several years ago, trying to be ahead of this and putting disciplinary action in place, hopefully being part of the solution to what is a problem in our society."

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