Ex-GM Porter banned through 2022

Major League Baseball has placed former Mets general manager Jared Porter on the ineligible list, commissioner Rob Manfred announced Wednesday, following a league investigation into reports he sent sexually explicit, uninvited text messages to a female reporter.

Porter will be ineligible through at least the 2022 season, after which he will be allowed to apply for reinstatement.

The Mets fired Porter, 41, in January shortly after a report surfaced that said he sent lewd text messages to a female journalist while serving as the Cubs’ director of professional scouting during the 2016 season. Porter sent 62 explicit, unanswered text messages to the foreign reporter, who had moved to the United States to cover the MLB season. Porter, who was originally hired by the Mets in December 2020, lasted just 37 days on the job.

“Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Porter violated MLB’s policies and that placement on the Ineligible List is warranted,” Manfred said in a statement. “We are committed to providing an appropriate work environment consistent with our values for all those involved in our game.”

Prior to joining the Mets, Porter served as the Diamondbacks’ senior vice president and assistant GM. Both teams said they were unaware of Porter’s misconduct.

“This is a wake-up call,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said following Porter’s firing in January. “It clearly suggests that something like this can be out there in connection with almost anyone. And we have to do our best to make sure that we know about that information.”

The Mets named Zack Scott its acting general manager eight days after firing Porter.