Former Mets GM Billy Eppler suspended for fabricating injuries

Former New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler was suspended for the 2024 World Series on Friday by commissioner Rob Manfred, who concluded he ordered the team to fabricate injuries to create open spots in the list.

No Mets medical or athletic personnel were mentioned in Major League Baseball's announcement.

Manfred said in a statement that Eppler directed “the deliberate fabrication of injuries; and the associated submission of documents in an attempt to secure multiple inappropriate placements on the injured list during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.”

The scheme involved fabricating injuries for up to a dozen players, sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers. Sources also said an anonymous letter from the organization tipped off MLB.

In a statement given to multiple media outlets, Eppler said he was “cooperating fully and transparently with MLB's investigation, and I accept their decision.”

Eppler, 48, served as general manager of the Mets from November 2021 until his departure on October 5, three days after owner Steven Cohen hired David Stearns as president of baseball operations. Eppler resigned the day MLB's investigation became public.

Cohen and former manager Buck Showalter were not mentioned in Manfred's public findings.

“The Mets have been informed of the conclusion of Major League Baseball’s investigation,” the team said in a statement. “With the resignation of Billy Eppler 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.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.