Former Mets GM Eppler suspended through Series for fabricating injuries
Former New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler was suspended through the 2024 World Series on Friday by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, who concluded he directed team staff to fabricate injuries to create open roster spots.
Manfred said in a statement that Eppler directed “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 seasons.”
Use of the so-called “phantom injured list” is thought to be common throughout baseball, but Eppler is the first to be disciplined.
“I cooperated fully and transparently with MLB’S investigation, and I accept their decision,” Eppler said in a statement.
Eppler will not lose any salary as a result of the suspension. The Mets paid the remainder of his contract, which was set to run through the 2025 season, after he resigned last fall the same day MLB’S investigation became public.
Eppler’s conduct involved about seven players, a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the players were not publicly identified.
Major League Baseball said it “concluded that the pattern of conduct was at Mr. Eppler’s sole direction and without any involvement of club ownership or superiors.”
The suspension will prevent Eppler from taking a job with another team until reinstated. Eppler will be allowed to apply for early reinstatement, MLB said.
No other Mets personnel were disciplined by the commissioner’s office, a second person familiar with the investigation said, also on condition of anonymity.
MLB said it interviewed more than three dozen people in the investigation. Eppler was represented by lawyer Jay Reisinger.
Under MLB rules, a physician must certify an injury in the sport’s computer records. MLB concluded any other staff involved with the misconduct participated at Eppler’s direction.
Players have an economic incentive to go along with an IL stint. A player with a split contract calling for different salaries in the major and minor leagues would have received at least $3,978 per day while on a big league IL last year; for many the pay while assigned to the minors ranged from as little as $315 or $630, depending on whether they were on a 40-man roster that year for the first time.
Eppler, 48, was the Mets general manager from November 2021 until he quit last Oct. 5, three days after owner Steven Cohen hired David Stearns as president of baseball operations.
The Mets said in a statement they “consider the matter closed and will have no further comment.”
Red Sox bringing back yellows:
Not that there was much doubt, but this week the Red Sox confirmed their yellow City Connect uniforms will return in 2024 and that there won’t be any changes to the club’s uniform designs in general.
“Yellows will definitely be back this year and there’s no change for this season,” said Red Sox chief marketing officer Adam Grossman in an interview with the Herald earlier this week.
Yankees no-hit pitcher retires:
Corey Kluber, who won two Cy Young Awards during a dominant five-year stretch with Cleveland and later hurled a no-hitter with the Yankees, is retiring after 13 MLB seasons, the righthander announced Friday.
Kluber, 37, compiled a 116-77 record, a 3.44 ERA and 1,725 strikeouts in 1,641.2 innings across stints with Cleveland,texas,theyankees, Tampabayandboston.
“Each chapter was filled with priceless experiences, phenomenal teammates, and the backing of devoted fans, whose steadfast support always moved me to be the very best I could every time I toed the rubber,” Kluber said in his announcement.