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Hours after his resignation, it was reported
that Major League Baseball is investigating Eppler for improper
use of the injured list. According to the New York Post, Eppler
decided to resign to avoid being a distraction to the club after
MLB informed the Mets of the investigation.
The Post reported that Eppler is expected to cooperate with the
probe. The Mets told the paper that it will not comment on an
ongoing MLB investigation.
No details of the alleged infraction were provided.
Eppler spent three seasons in the position after serving as GM
of the Los Angeles Angels from 2015-20.
But with David Stearns recently hired for the Mets' president of
baseball operations role, Eppler would no longer have been the
front office's lead decision-maker.
"I wanted David to have a clean slate and that meant me stepping
down," Eppler said in a statement. "I hope for nothing but the
best for the entire Mets organization."
Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement: "He decided it is in
everyone's best interest to fully hand over the leadership of
baseball operations to David Stearns."
The Mets are in the market for a general manager as well as a
manager, as they let Buck Showalter go at the conclusion of the
2023 regular season.
New York went 75-87 in 2023 despite having the highest Opening
Day payroll in baseball at more than $353 million. The front
office spending included marquee acquisitions like starting
pitchers Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga, as well as keeping
outfielder Brandon Nimmo on an eight-year, $162 million deal.
Poor results on the field led the Mets to sell at the trade
deadline, shipping out Verlander, fellow ace Max Scherzer, Mark
Canha and others.
The Mets went 253-233 in Eppler's three seasons in the GM role
and made one playoff appearance, losing in the wild-card round
last year to the San Diego Padres.
--Field Level Media
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