Former Mets GM Billy Eppler resigned amidst MLB investigation
The baseball world was shocked when Mets general manager Billy Eppler suddenly resigned Thursday, and now more details have come to light.
League sources tell SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino that Major League Baseball is investigating Eppler for improper use of the injured list, which was first reported by The New York Post.
The announcement was seen by many as "a major surprise," as Eppler was expected to be part of the Mets' leadership team with new president of baseball operations David Stearns.
“I wanted David to have a clean slate and that meant me stepping down,” Eppler wrote in the statement announcing his resignation. “I hope for nothing but the best for the entire Mets organization.”
Eppler was hired by the Mets in November 2021 after previously serving as an assistant GM with the Yankees (2012-14) and as GM with the Angels (2015-2020).
In his first season as Mets GM, the team went 101-61 and made the postseason. However, the team was eliminated in the Wild Card round by the San Diego Padres in three games. That first offseason saw Eppler bring in free agents Max Scherzer and Starling Marte.
Eppler's second offseason saw the signing of Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana and Justin Verlander. He and the organization also re-signed Edwin Diaz and Brandon Nimmo, and extended Jeff McNeil.
In the Mets' 2023 campaign, which saw the team go 75-87, Eppler used the trade deadline to flip Verlander, Scherzer and other veterans to revamp the farm system. Those moves brought in highly-touted prospects like Luisangel Acuna, Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.
