Title: Mets General Manager Billy Eppler Resigns Amid MLB Investigation
Published: Oct. 5, 2023
Updated: Oct. 5, 2023, 8:13 p.m. ET
In a shocking turn of events, Billy Eppler has resigned as the general manager of the New York Mets amidst an ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball (MLB) into alleged misuse of the injured list during the 2023 season. The investigation came to light after an anonymous letter tipped off MLB about potential abuses of the injured list.
MLB has confirmed the investigation but has not revealed the specific nature of the allegations. It is reported that multiple Mets employees will be interviewed as part of the probe. The potential penalties that the Mets may face are currently unclear.
Upon learning about the investigation, Eppler chose to resign in order to avoid becoming a distraction to the new administration led by David Stearns. Although Eppler has not yet spoken to MLB officials, sources suggest that he plans to cooperate with the investigation.
Misusing the injured list can be advantageous for a team competitively, as it allows healthy players to be designated as injured, thus keeping them under team control. Eppler’s resignation comes just three days after Stearns was introduced as the president of baseball operations, expressing excitement about working with Eppler. Unfortunately, Eppler will not see a third season as the Mets’ leader.
In a statement released by the Mets, Eppler said, “I wanted David to have a clean slate, and that meant me stepping down.” Despite his departure, Eppler expressed his best wishes for the entire organization.
Stearns was not quoted in the news release, but Mets owner Steve Cohen thanked Eppler for leading the team to a 101-win season and postseason berth in the previous year.
Eppler’s resignation adds to the list of unceremonious exits for Mets officials. Sandy Alderson, the former team president, stepped aside earlier in 2023 and became a special advisor. Alderson had played a role in hiring Eppler and emphasized the meticulous vetting process undertaken due to past mistakes.
Eppler’s immediate predecessors, Jared Porter and Zack Scott, were both fired for off-the-field issues. Porter was found to have sexually harassed a female journalist during his time with the Cubs, while Scott was arrested on drunken-driving charges, although he was later acquitted.
Before Porter and Scott, Mickey Callaway, the Mets’ manager from 2018-2019, was suspended and placed on MLB’s ineligible list for sending inappropriate messages and photos to female reporters.
Eppler’s hiring in 2021 came after an extensive search for a president of baseball operations, impressing early on with his free agent signings and acquisition of Max Scherzer. However, this season proved to be more challenging, leading to a trade-deadline sell-off.
Eppler’s strengths in the international market, demonstrated by landing Shohei Ohtani with the Angels and Kodai Senga with the Mets, were recognized. Unfortunately, he will not be a part of the Mets organization during an offseason where Ohtani is a free agent.
Despite public statements indicating a positive relationship between Eppler and Stearns, Cohen has previously expressed his desire to build a robust management team. The Mets owner emphasized the complexity of baseball operations and the importance of having a strong front office.
As the Mets embark on a new era, Eppler’s resignation adds another layer of uncertainty to the team’s future, leaving Stearns to find a new general manager to guide the organization.