Former Mets GM Billy Eppler ineligible for 2024 due to 'improper use' of injured list
Former Mets general manager Billy Eppler has been placed on Major League Baseball's ineligible list through the 2024 World Series following an investigation into his use of the injured list.
According to an MLB release on Friday, Eppler has been effectively suspended due to "improper use of injured list placements, including the deliberate fabrication of injuries; and the associated submission of documentation for the purposes of securing multiple improper injured list placements during the 2022 and 2023 season.
Following MLB's Department of Investigations' review, which included interviews with more than three dozen individuals and relevant documents and electronic records, the investigation concluded that the behavior was at Eppler's "sole direction and without any involvement of club ownership or superiors."
After two seasons as Mets general manager, Eppler resigned from his position on Oct. 5, 2023, three days after David Stearns was hired as the club's new president of baseball operations. Eppler cited the wish to offer a "clean slate" for Stearns, but an investigation was ongoing in the background.
Eppler was hired by the Mets in November 2021 after five seasons as the Angels general manager between 2015-20. He also spent 11 seasons in the Yankees' front office.
No one else in the Mets organization was punished as a result of the investigation.
"The Mets have been informed of the conclusion of Major League Baseball's investigation," a Mets statement said. "With Billy Eppler's resignation on October 5, 2023, and with David Stearns leading the baseball operations team, the Mets consider the matter closed and will have no further comment."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Billy Eppler: Former NY Mets GM placed on ineligible list for 2024
