Report: Mets finalizing deal to hire Eppler as GM
The New York Mets are finalizing a deal to hire Billy Eppler as their 15th full-time general manager, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports.
Once the deal is completed, Eppler will be given full control of the Mets' baseball operations and have final say on all baseball matters, sources told SNY's Andy Martino. Exact terms of the agreement are unclear.
Eppler was reportedly offered the position earlier Monday after meeting with owner Steve Cohen over the weekend.
Meeting between Eppler and Steve Cohen over the weekend was said to have gone extremely well. Process accelerated from there.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) November 16, 2021
The 46-year-old spent five seasons as GM of the Los Angeles Angels. He was fired following the 2020 campaign after the Halos' fifth straight losing season. Eppler was hired by the William Morris Endeavor agency in September.
Prior to his years in Anaheim, Eppler spent 10 seasons in the New York Yankees' front office, including three as an assistant GM. He also worked in the Colorado Rockies organization.
Eppler's hiring ends the Mets' long and winding search for their next head of baseball operations. The team was initially shooting for the stars but was turned down by the likes of Oakland Athletics president Billy Beane and former Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox executive Theo Epstein, among others.
Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations was also being chased by the Mets with no success. But Stearns is only under contract in Milwaukee until 2022 and reportedly may be interested in the Mets' presidency gig next year. Eppler is one of Stearn's best friends, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Former Washington Nationals assistant Adam Cromie, who's been out of baseball since 2017, was also reported to be a candidate for the job.
Mets president Sandy Alderson has been serving as interim head of baseball operations since Zack Scott - himself an acting GM - was placed on administrative leave and then fired following his arrest for driving under the influence. Scott replaced Jared Porter, who was fired after barely two months on the job following revelations that he'd sent unsolicited lewd messages to a female reporter.
Brodie Van Wagenen was the last full-time Mets GM to hold the role for more than one season.