Major League Baseball has suspended former Mets GM Billy Eppler through the 2024 World Series for improperly using the injured list, including intentionally fabricating injuries, to benefit the Mets during two seasons.
The MLB investigation concluded that the pattern of conduct was at Eppler’s sole direction and without any involvement of the club and ownership or superiors. A statement by Commissioner Rob Manfred said Eppler was guilty of “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.”
MLB considers the matter closed.
“I cooperated fully and transparently with MLB’s investigation, and I accept their decision,” Eppler told Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
The Mets issued a statement: “The Mets have been informed of the conclusion of Major League Baseball’s investigation. 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.”
Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reported that a handful of players she spoke to said that “every team does it” and they were both interested and confused why the league only looked at Eppler.
Eppler, 48, was named Mets general manager in November 2021 and resigned last October when the investigation went public. He was the Angels GM from 2015-2020 and assistant GM for the Yankees from 2012-2014.
