Nov. 18: The Mets have announced the hiring of Eppler on a four-year deal, as expected.
Nov. 17: The agreement being finalized is a four-year contract, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. Newsday’s David Lennon tweets that the hiring will likely become official on Friday.
Nov. 15: After weeks of searching for a new baseball operations leader, the Mets are reportedly finalizing a contract and naming former Angels GM Billy Eppler their new general manager. Eppler’s hiring will give the Mets an experienced baseball operations leader to take over a department that has seen a staggering amount of turnover in the past year.
The Mets have effectively been without a general manager for more than a calendar year now, since incoming owner Steve Cohen dismissed former general manager Brodie Van Wagenen the day his sale of the team was finalized. New York sought to hire a high-profile executive to overtake the baseball operations department last year, but after struggling to obtain permission to interview several high-ranking officials with other clubs, Cohen and returning team president Sandy Alderson settled on naming D-backs assistant GM Jared Porter their new general manager.
The Porter hiring proved regrettable almost immediately, as he was fired just six weeks into his tenure following the revelation of repeated sexual harassment of a reporter years prior. Zack Scott, who’d been hired from the Red Sox as an assistant GM, was elevated to the title of “acting GM” and thought to be a candidate for permanent promotion to the GM post before he was arrested on a DWI charge over the summer. He’s since been cut from the organization himself.
Cohen and Alderson opened the 2021-22 offseason with a similar plan to last year, hoping to interview some of the biggest front-office names in the sport. A meeting between Theo Epstein and Cohen, however, ended with both sides reportedly agreeing there was not a fit. The Brewers denied permission to interview David Stearns for a second straight offseason, and longtime A’s baseball operations leader Billy Beane withdrew his name from the running before taking a meeting. Thus began a series of denials for the Mets — some when another team refused to grant permission to interview an executive and some when an executive with another club declined to interview at all.
After a dizzying sequence of candidates had come to light, the Mets turned to the agent world once again. Eppler, two months ago, had accepted a position with William Morris Endeavor — a well-known talent representation company in Hollywood that has recently branched out into baseball representation. Eppler was expected to help head up a fledgling baseball practice with WME, who a year ago landed star shortstop Carlos Correa as its highest-profile client. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that Eppler had inked a five-year deal with WME but will instead quickly return to the other side of the negotiation table.
Eppler is no stranger to New York City after a decade-long run in the Yankees’ front office prior to his run with the Halos. The now-46-year-old broke into baseball as a scout with the Rockies in the early 2000s before joining the Yankees in that same role. He was eventually named the Yankees’ director of scouting and, in 2011, promoted to the title of assistant general manager — a role he’d hold until being hired to lead the Angels’ baseball operations staff following the 2015 season.
The Angels opted to move on from Eppler last offseason despite a year remaining on his contract, as he’d not yet produced a postseason team during that time. Of course, Eppler also inherited a barren farm system a payroll outlook that was bogged down by an ownership-driven signing of Albert Pujols, and a team that was in the “penalty box” in terms of international signing capabilities for the first couple years of his tenure there.
To Eppler’s credit, the Angels wooed Shohei Ohtani under his watch and also worked out a record extension with center fielder Mike Trout, likely keeping him in Anaheim for the duration of his career. It was also under Eppler that the Angels extended Justin Upton on an ill-fated five-year contract and signed Anthony Rendon to a seven-year, $245MM that did nothing to address the team’s rotation deficiencies — although as Maria Torres of the L.A. Times explored at the time of that 2019 signing, owner Arte Moreno’s fixation on acquiring Rendon pre-dated Eppler’s hiring as general manager.
Free-agent spending was generally limited for Eppler — not surprising given the mammoth outlays on the books — and often resulted in a series of one-year deals for high-risk players. Signings of Matt Harvey, Julio Teheran, Tim Lincecum, Cody Allen and Trevor Cahill didn’t prove fruitful, nor was a three-year deal for infielder Zack Cozart, which was the only free-agent deal other than Rendon that was priced at even $20MM during Eppler’s tenure. In addition to the struggles in free agency, many of the Angels’ homegrown arms were regularly injured and/or wildly inconsistent.
Free agency is only one piece of the puzzle for any baseball ops leader, though, and it should be noted that Eppler has a pretty solid track record on the trade front. The Angels’ initial acquisition of Upton was shrewd, prior to that regrettable extension, and several other notable trades under his watch panned out quite well for the Angels. Andrelton Simmons, Patrick Sandoval, Max Stassi, Tommy La Stella, Felix Pena and Dylan Bundy (who was excellent for the Halos in 2020) were all acquired at generally minimal cost. Eppler had a knack for finding waiver gems, too, as evidenced by the team’s success with Hansel Robles, Brian Goodwin, Blake Parker and Noe Ramirez.
While it was a rather circuitous route to get here, the Mets’ ultimate GM hire in many ways resembles the candidates they began seeking out of the gate this offseason. Recent Mets targets have generally been the second or third in command of opposing teams’ baseball operations hierarchies, but Eppler is an experienced baseball ops leader who is familiar with big markets and comes with some name recognition. That falls more in line with the Mets’ early pursuits of Epstein, Stearns and Beane than with recent interest in a slew of assistant GMs.
Once Eppler is formally installed and announced as the new general manager, he could get the opportunity to operate with a bit more latitude than was afforded to him under the Halos and Moreno. His first order of business will be to name a manager to replace Luis Rojas, and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman suggests that former Angels skipper Brad Ausmus could be high on Eppler’s list. That wouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that Eppler hired Ausmus to lead his staff in Anaheim, but the Mets figure to embark on a full-fledged managerial search and interview a number of candidates before making any final decisions on that front.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported earlier today that Eppler had gained traction as a leading candidate in the Mets’ search. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first reported that the Mets had made an offer to Eppler (Twitter link). Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported that Eppler and Cohen had met face-to-face over the weekend and that a contract was in the works (Twitter links). MLB Network’s Jon Heyman added that talks were in the final stages.
Milwaukee-2208
Lol Mets suck
Chipper Jones' illegitimate kid
I think they Mets are about to offer the Manager position to Billy Heywood next.
Milwaukee-2208
Lol and they still think Stearns is going to join the trash organization lmao.
User 3921286289
I heard they didn’t even interview Eppier.
metfan4ever
From who did you hear that from?
YaGottaBelieveAgain
John Stearns the C you mean? … as a Catching coach I guess.
YaGottaBelieveAgain
Who is doing the wave at home right now. C’mon admit.
Redstitch108* 2
I was THE ONLY guy on this site, and frankly the only guy anywhere who said the Mets should at least talk with Billy Eppler. I thought with his NY ties and good rapport with players that he’d be a good match for the Mets. He had tough circumstances with the Angels (tough owner to deal with, an extraordinary amount of injuries and a poor farm system) and even though not all his ideas and deals worked out, he wasn’t a terrible GM. Some of the things he did were very good. He’s fairly young and I honestly think he will work well with Sandy Alderson.
detroitdave84
Mets suck & are dis-functional! Theo Epstein should have been the choice. Dumb ass move.
JackStrawb
Eppler was, in fact, a demonstrably awful GM.
andremets
God forbid the Mets become like a trash organization that has never won a title in its history (or even gotten to the WS)….
swinging wood
Do you want a cookie?
Willy Mays
In his time with the Angels he wasted the talent of the best player in baseball. How’d Rendon work out. Where’s all the great pitching he’s accumulated. That team is still a mess but with some really downside contracts coming due
The Mets "Missed WAR"
Billy Eppler is nothing more than a puppet and fall guy after it doesn’t work out. Just look at his time with the Angels. Perfect hire for the Mets. Congratulations Mets fans. Sandy Alderson just became your real GM and Steve Cohen is the PoBO. Eppler is going to get hired because they know he will do anything they say. I used to think the Mets were going to build a front office that would make the franchise a real threat. Instead Cohen is just the Wilpons version 2.0 with more money and more controversy. I don’t even care how much money he has. This team franchise shouldn’t scare anyone. They should have hired someone more promising and just been hands off and let him run the team. You only hire Billy Eppler for one reason and it’s not because he’s good at running a baseball team.
Buckner
Thank goodness for the mute button.
Orel Saxhiser
It’s been a record day for me.
amandafafi
Me Here
U There
NYMetsFanatic
@The Mets “Missed WAR” You must be the most miserable effing human being on the planet, living out your best life in your parents basement while you throw up all over this comments section. You really are pathetic. Grow a pair and try using your head when you comment, instead of putting everyone and everything down. You’re just a miserable human being. Get a life. And I mean a real one. Muted.
bigjonempire
I understand why you might think that but Eppler was very respected when he left the Yankees. With the Angels he was usually forced to operate with one hand tied behind his back. The improved farm system, the current lineup and Ohtani illustrate his talents. Give him an actually budget and some freedom and he could be exactly what the Mets need.
Yep it is
Respected?? By who the Yankee Fan who thinks everyone in the organization is a HOF’er? Give me a BREAK. Eppler is NEVER going to transform a team. He was one of the WORST GM’s in baseball. Don’t tell he was handcuffed either. Be a man do the job or get out and didn’t have the balls to stand up and guess what he was OUT.
WiffleBall
People who leave nasty, childishly insulting comments like NYMetsFanatic are more like the insults they dish out. It’s a form of projection. Seek help, young man.
hockiechick
I agree that he was a yes man during his time in Anaheim but when you work for Arte Moreno and his pet ego, you don’t have much of a choice. I think that the Ohtani deal and the Trout extension were more of Arte’s doings than Eppler’s. This way Arte can look good to the clueless Angels fans.
I’d be curious to see how he does with the NYM but I don’t know how much freedom he would have under their owners.
Halo11Fan
Eppler was essential in bringing in Ohtani. Eppler drafted Marsh and Adell and a lot of young talent that is ready.
He was not able to add starting or relief pitching. He’s a smart man. I’m hopeful it will work out.
raidersam89
You should try being in his fantasy baseball league. Wow…
SaberSmuckers
Buckner’s comment is everything.
metfan4ever
So you tell your boss/owner No, I’m not going to do that because I’m a man. Please. Be a man and leave this chat
Wutntarnation
Moreno is arguably one of the worst owners to operate for. He never let’s his GM’s run the team.
Tomas7
I certainly agree with you, giving this guy a chance to do well.
YaGottaBelieveAgain
Maybe you could get a Puppy to distract yourself. Just an idea
YaGottaBelieveAgain
You were great in all those Twilight Zone episodes and of course as Rocky’s trainer.
sfjackcoke
I think the DH in LA is why Ohtani ended up in with the Angels and not with the Dodgers or Giants and Ohtani has said as much. He wanted to be a 2 way player and that wasn’t an option at the time of his signing.
That said I’m sure he’s happy to get out from under Moreno. Still WTF was going on with the this Mets hire, the Wilpons are supposed to be gone and the dysfunction was supposed to leave with them.
ddub44
Perry Minasian walked into a much easier spot than Billy was ever in with the Halos. Ohtani signed with the Halos because of his relationship with Eppler. Trout extended in large part because Of Eppler. I think Eppler will do amazing things with the Mets.
carllafong
What are you talking about? Eppler had 5 drafts and didn’t pick lower than 12th. And you think it’s impressive that he came away with Marsh, and Adell who haven’t done anything yet? The Dodgers draft near last every year and have a ton of impact players actually contributing. Not a single significant pitching prospect did he leave in our system other than Detmers. Look at our top 30 talent that wasn’t taken by Minnassian– it’s pathetic. Jordan Adams is our #3 prospect– he’s been horrible and isn’t close to the majors. No significant catching or 3B prospects. No #1 arm. Signed Cozart to a horrendous deal and then had to give away our #1 pick to get someone to take the contract off our hands. He gave Upton a horrible contract when no one else wanted him. Nothing out of Latin America. Did not develop any free agent talent. He restricited Ohtani’s playing time and Minnassian lifted those restrictions and that = MVP. Forget making the playoffs he did not have a single .500 season. he chose to sign Rendon at $30MM a year instead of investing in pitching. Upton and Rendon alone would have provided $60MM for arms. He struck out on nearly every free agent signing. The pitchers he signed were horrible. He selected Ausmus to manage who was horrible. I could give you 20 more examples beyond the fact he had the best player in baseball on his squad and Ohtani.
A'sfaninLondonUK
@sfjackcoke
“That said I’m sure he’s happy to get out from under Moreno. Still WTF was going on with the this Mets hire, the Wilpons are supposed to be gone and the dysfunction was supposed to leave with them.”
Amazing isn’t it? Obviously we’re all on the outside soothsaying but Mets fans were high as kites when Cohen eventually persuaded the Wilpons to take the money and exit in fewer than five years. Talk of dynasties and $300m payrolls. Obviously Cohen couldn’t have known about the Callaway/Porter scandals.
Right now it’s looking like a tainted organisation in need of dynamic leadership whereas it seems to have ownership by twitter and little else. Remains to be seen whether Eppler has taken a convoluted route from one asylum to another. Interesting that some of the dynamic leadership names that they were linked or leaked with declined to be interviewed…
Redstitch108* 2
I disagree about Eppler being one of the worst GMs. You just don’t know your facts.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
Angels are the worse run franchise in MLB. Nice to see Eppler get a shot with a team that will give him free reign. Cohen is already on the record saying he wants his baseball people to run the team. Mets have cheese to spend and some interesting pieces they could move in a trade for the right player. Alas, as always seems to be the case with the Mets, health will be the determining factor in whether or not they challenge for the NL East title. Right now, there are too many questions marks, especially with the rotation.
detroitdave84
You don’t choose him over Theo Epstein.
JackStrawb
What’s this pitiful joke that Eppler did anything with the Angels farm? Never picked worse than 12th, and it was #25 when he left.
Why deceive on this point?
JackStrawb
It does seem inarguable: Steve Cohen is Jeff Wilpon having a bad year.
Michael A Stabile
Theo Epstein did not want the Mets job..
JackStrawb
@Halo11Fan Amusing, in its way. “He was not able…” as if actively prevented. Terrible use of the passive voice, son.
Lee Harvey Oddball
Epstein didn’t want the job, so he wasn’t ‘chosen over’ Epstein.
5toolMVP
Wasn’t it Law that ranked the Angels farm LAST in 2015, I think they were as high as 12-15th by 2018/19 then with Adell/Marsh/Canning/etc promotions they obviously dropped in ranking.
Deadguy
Sounds like your saying he’s shorting the team?
JackStrawb
@5toolMVP Of course not, and Law isn’t the last word on anything. The highest Eppler took the Angels’ farm was #25 after inheriting them at #27.
Way to blame Dipoto, Billy! Well, he’ll fit right in to the Mets executive culture.
Dotnet22
Sadly, he’s probably age appropriate by now. Time flies.
Al Hirschen
Tony Bolognavich is still in the running for the President job for the Mets
lady1959
No Tom Hanks is next manager. Madonna play third ⚾️
cleonswoboda
Pop Fisher would be my choice.
Al Hirschen
Andy Martino
@martinonyc
·
26m
Sources: Billy Eppler will be in control of baseball operations and have final say on baseball matters (If it gets finalized which it’s expected to).
WSC’s since ‘62 PHI 2 ATL 2 NYM 2
The seasoned manager talk can now shift from Buck Showalter / Bruce Bochy to Mike Scioscia. It’s been a couple of years since he resigned from the Angels, the Olympic team got his juices flowing. Finished in the top 5 for AL Manager of the year 8 times and won twice. 1,650 wins and a WS title.
5toolMVP
Eppler hiring Scioscia? That would be a sight to see. Talk about plot twist!
alproof
LOL In Stearns we Trust sucks. Stick with your own garbage team, ashole.
Al Hirschen
Billy Bob Eppler love big deals and big free agents signing’s
Keithyim
Derp
Al Hirschen
Now Showalter
yup 2
Why?
darkstar61
You have to be kidding me
Melvin McMurf
Good Luck with that
mlbnyyfan
Desperation times I have a feeling Eppler says Yes.
chace alexander
At this point why not
Gk_holiday
F it I guess.
fred-3
There’s a lot of losing on Eppler’s resumé
DarkSide830
Ive heard Amaro is available
yankeesarethebest88
Not bad. He didn’t have much to work with in Anaheim. Let’s see what happens if he accepts.
newpony13
Yeah I actually think he’ll do well with more resources. Plus he probably learned a thing or two from the legendary Brian Cashman. I would be excited if he accepts the position!
Alkie
“Legendary.”
Maybe the Mets can win 1 division and 0 pennants in the next decade.
newpony13
Why’d you conveniently forget the other five championships he was responsible for though?
Yep it is
Cashout won 1 on his own. The other 4 he took over a team that was loaded from Bob Watson. Humpty Dumpty would of won with those clubs. 1 in 20 years shows he has NO BUSINESS running a team.
Sherm623
Humpty Dumpty turned down the Mets job
steelerbravenation
Sorry Cashman doesn’t get those
Stump & Bob Watson gets those championships
Cashman got 1
Ducky Buckin Fent
Yet Brian Cashman was the GM for those teams.
I know the popular narrative is he “inherited” those teams, but that is not strictly the case. Cash did plenty to augment & expand those rosters. Plenty of GM’s have inherited good rosters. & I can’t think of any who tore off a whole series of championships.
imissjoebuzas
No, Mother Goose wouldn’t release Humpty from his contract.
Wutntarnation
What has he done since steinbrenner died? He was the one who ran the yankees.
cleonswoboda
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall while the Mets are having a fairly bad fall.
PitcherMeRolling
What? Why would Brian Cashman help him? Or what could Eppler observe with Cashman that he couldn’t before?
I swear a lot of these comments take more time to type than the poster actually spent thinking about it.
socalbball
I don’t think anyone is saying Cashman would help him now, just that Eppler probably learned a lot working under Cashman with the Yankees.
MartialArtisan
Thinking has no place in today’s world.
Willy Mays
The Angels had the 4th highest payroll in baseball last year and the team has perhaps the 2 best players in all of baseball. What the heck are you talking about
yandymania
Didn’t have much to work with except the best player of all time LOL
darkstar61
And a 185 million dollar payroll each season to complement said best player with
VonPurpleHayes
“didn’t have much to work with in Anaheim” This statement confuses me. Can you explain what you mean? He certainly spent a ton of money. I’m not even being argumentative. I just want to hear your thoughts.
candymaldonado
He inherited a #30 ranked farm system, the inability to be allowed to spend in the international free agency market for 3 years because the previous regime blew past their allotment on one bad player, and several large bloated contracts, along with an owner who demanded big star power names in the lineup but never let the team past the luxury tax to sign pitching because he’s a right wing kook who hates taxes viscerally to such a degree that he didn’t want to pay any overage, even if it’d help the team. It was a bad, thankless job.
VonPurpleHayes
I mean some of this sounds like gossip to me, but you bring up some valid points. I think Eppler was consistently given a very generous payroll. So I disagree with the fact that he didn’t have a lot to work with. Limitations? Certainly, but more to work with than most GMs.
candymaldonado
It’s very limiting when you consider there was an effective team salary cap in place from Moreno, and a lot of payroll already tied up prior to his arrival. They had high payrolls. That’s not the same as Eppler having discretion to spend a lot. Especially not when he was having to constantly plug holes with FA that could and should have been filled with cheaper farm talent that didn’t exist because of the previous regime.
Also, you can call the rationales I give gossip (though some of it is internally sourced from writers who cover the team
), but the end result for Eppler was all the same in terms of tangible constraints.
Amazins
As a Mets fan, I want to think/believe that anyone who goes through something and isn’t successful comes out of that thinking well, if I get another shot, I won’t do this or that again. Belichick as a Browns coach, Joe Torre as a Mets manager. Glass half full, yes, but the other choice is worse!
imissjoebuzas
Amazins, i applaud your positive approach to the discussion, for it is apparent few other voices here are positive. Can any Yankees fan here please list some players he signed while Director of scouting there? I am sure there were some good ones and some duds, but I’d like a little background. Eppler may be tied up by the Lindor contract as well, but there seems to be a little mire wiggle room here than in Anaheim.
carllafong
Your assessment of Eppler’s 5 years is bizarre. Are you related to him? He chose to sign Upton and Rendon for $60MM. He chose to sign Cozart. He chose to give our #1 pick away to SF for them to take Cozart’s contract. He hired Ausmus. He imposed restrictions on Ohtani. You’re right, he did take over a team ranked 30th with its prospect pool, and in five years we are now ranked a whopping 23 or 24 depending on who you ask. He had the best player in the game and a big budget for a major franchise with a huge fanbase and he never had a .500 season. He failed as bad as someone can. A horrible signing by the Mets.
Chemo850
He didn’t have much to work with? Dude did you forget the bottomless budget that he had to work with and still sucked anyways? I think he had more there then he’s gonna have with the Mets. Most of the money is tied up already, the farm system is empty and he doesn’t have the best player in the world anymore.
Long Suffering Mets Fan
He did not have an unlimited budget b/c Moreno would not let them go over the luxury tax. Add to this, Moreno was/is a meddlesome owner..
VonPurpleHayes
Going over the luxury tax is something most owners don’t do unless they’re a contender. The Mets didn’t go over the tax with Cohen last year. I doubt they do it next year either. Eventually? Sure.
PitcherMeRolling
How many times we going to hire an agent?
newpony13
He’s not an agent…
PitcherMeRolling
He works for an agency. Maybe he’s a consultant or whatever, but no Mets fan is going to care.
newpony13
He’s a business partner and he’s been doing that for like a month lol. He was a scout, assistant gm, and gm for much longer.
PitcherMeRolling
I know. You don’t get it, it’s ok.
bravesiowafan
Nah just working for an agency much better smh
PitcherMeRolling
Yup. Working at an agency for a little bit because you failed your way out of baseball is so much better than being a career agent.
johndietz
Maybe he’ll have a chance if the Mets owner isn’t too involved
NYMetsFanatic
You know John, that’s a great point.
VonPurpleHayes
Honest question: First impressions of Cohen, do you really see him as a guy that won’t be involved?
Rangers29
Oh, you poor basturd.
Deadguy
I always thought hunter said ‘oh you rat basturd!’
davidk1979
If he declines a new level of embarrassment
NYMetsFanatic
Actually I think we’ve run out of levels.
Al Hirschen
The Mets pick somebody finally mazel tov
bobtillman
Not quite true. Jethro Bodine has just today said no.
cleonswoboda
Jethro Bodine says no,but Mets sign Mr. Drysdale then realize that his first name isn’t Don.
bobtillman
The former governor of the state suggested Ellie Mae;;;;
Heck, he would have suggested Granny…..
thickiedon
Mazel too… fitting lol
Dustyslambchops23
This implies he has not yet accepted?
How does a job offer leak prior to the candidate making his decision exactly. This all playing out publicly is very odd
YankeesBleacherCreature
It’s all by design ala Cohen.
Dustyslambchops23
What’s to gain by that?
I get the whole, we are going after the best at first, but what’s to gain now? If he accepts there will be a formal announcement, if he rejects it will be another egg on the face that didn’t need to happen
YankeesBleacherCreature
Honestly, I think Cohen is intently doing it to grab headlines and whatever other M.O. he has. It doesn’t suit Alderson’s style. If Cohen wanted to place a gag on all of this, he could. Is there anyone who could defy him?
bigjonempire
They were probably seen talking at the GM meetings.
candymaldonado
A lot of what happened in Anaheim wasn’t really about him, but ultimately had to get pinned on him. Their pitching drafting/signing still lagged under Eppler, but the guy was the let piece of the recruiting team that landed Ohtani, he locked up Trout, landed Andrelton Simmons for cheap, drafted Adell and Marsh and Detmers, and oversaw a pretty solid improvement in their farm system, all while being handicapped by the Pujols signing, and by the previous regime giving all of their International signing money for THREE YEARS to a total bust (Roberto Baldoquin).
Moreno meddles entirely too much as an owner, and it really hamstrings the team when he pushes for marquee bats and then tightens the pursestrings when an arm is needed. Eppler isn’t without faults, but it’d be good to see what he can do if Cohen isn’t just another Moreno.
Orel Saxhiser
@candymaldonado, thanks for providing a balanced look at Eppler’s tenure with the Angels. Should he accept the Mets’ offer, it will be interesting to see what direction the team pursues (and whether Cohen will be similarly meddlesome). Given Eppler’s success in recruiting Ohtani, do you feel the Mets will become major players in the Seiya Suzuki sweepstakes if he becomes their GM? They have supposedly shown an interest in Suzuki.
candymaldonado
I can’t say about Suzuki, because the Eppler/Ohtani connection was VERY personal, and apparently Eppler had known him since he was in his late teens. In that regard, if the Angels don’t lock up Ohtani, it could mean the Mets are a big player for him!
bucketbrew35
Now he’ll only be saddled with the Cano contract instead of the Pujols one.
candymaldonado
Nowhere near the length, though. Had to navigate 5 years of Pujols in Anaheim to two of Cano. Plus Moreno has an allergic reaction to exceeding the luxury tax no matter what. Doubt Cohen feels the same.
Orel Saxhiser
Eppler’s perceived failure in Anaheim might have worked favorably in his Mets interview. Two major markets, with Eppler explaining what went wrong with the Angels and how the Mets can avoid doing that. He might have told Cohen and Alderson the conditions he needs to succeed with the Mets, and they agreed. Light on the meddling part, of course, but positive on how he can help the Mets shape a positive image in New York. The bottom line is whether these three people share a vision and feel they can work well together. Time will tell if Eppler becomes the hire.
Too often, we as fans view these types of hires negatively, without looking at the entire picture. It’s as if we’re rooting for these people to fail. Alderson and Eppler are no dummies. They’ve been around MLB for a while and know how the game works. And while we’ve had fun here with the Mets’ hiring process, it doesn’t matter how long it takes so long as they hire the right person.
Orel Saxhiser
At this point, we don’t know what the tax limit will be.
Buckner
Well said, Mr. Penguin, Ron Cey Hey.
Good points.
Orel Saxhiser
Buckner, or if we’ll have baseball, to be perfectly negative. My automatic renewal to MLB.TV has been canceled just in case.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Two years of Cano is better than 6 years of Pujols’ ghost. At least he’ll the money to sign some pitchers rather than take one-year flyers.
ohyeadam
Holy moly I completely forgot about Baldoquin
candymaldonado
Not hard to make the argument that that signing did more damage to the Angels than the Pujols contract.
carllafong
In five years your big draft takeaway is that Eppler drafted marsh and Adell? Adell has done nothing to cheer about so far, and Marsh has been only slightly better. After five years the Angels are ranked in the bottom seven for prospects and that is after drafting no worse than 12th. He drafted a middle infielder #1 instead of taking any number of great available arms, and then traded that player with Cozart to San Francisco in order to dump the Cozart contract– one of the worst deals the organization ever signed. He gave Upton a long term deal when there was no competition for him. We do not have a single significant arm drafted and developed under Eppler– not a single one. Bad, bad, job and it falls on him– not Moreno or anyone else.
candymaldonado
Your inane drivel is already all over this thread. We get it. Eppler killed your dog or something. Bury it and move on.
Also, Reid Detmers is the #27 prospect in baseball as a pitcher right now, and Eppler wasn’t even allowed to sign international free agents for 3 years because of Baldoquin, but go off I guess skippy.
icantstandyous
Lol, OMG this is hysterical. Mets are this desperate? They can’t get a real GM because the position will be sandwiched between Alderson and his son. What a disgrace. It wasn’t the wilpons, the franchise is just cursed. lol. Yanks remain Kings of NY for the next decade. clearly…..NO DEBATING!!!
kodiak920
Metsfan22 will debate you.
Keithyim
Derp
Wutntarnation
What’s that been worth lately? In any sport, what has a team from New York done recently?
I Like Big Bunts
I’m sorry Mets fans. Even you guys deserve better.
citizen
If the mets offer you a job, RUN.
What about Bobby Valentine and Bobby Bonilla, GM and assistant GM?
tstats
Already paying Bonilla
Keithyim
Omg they are still paying Bonilla? No one has ever pointed that out before. Sooooo funny lololol
bobtillman
New Yorkers will remember when Pete Rozzell had to step in and essentially take control of the NY football Giants. Worked out well; Rozell hired George Young, who hired the Big Tuna, and Big Blue got a couple of rings.
I see the same kind of chaos with the Mets.
thickiedon
Isn’t that what happened with Montreal?
Samuel
Excellent bob!
steelerbravenation
That had already happened
How you think Sandy got there
Selig told the Wilpons they had to bring in Sandy to run the organization
8791Slegna
He deserves another shot. He didn’t really start to have leverage to run his own show until 2019 after Sosh left. Saddled with bad contracts at the start of his run – Pujols, Hamilton, Weaver, Wilson. He made the most of what he had to work with each year. The Cozart signing was awful, but while I didn’t think he would hit as well in Anaheim as in Cincinnati, nobody anticipated him being out with injuries. The Martin Maldonado acquisition and subsequent trade for Patrick Sandoval was brilliant. Hopefully he makes the most of this opportunity and has more to show for it.
carllafong
Why does he deserve another shot when there are so many talented people who have waited their turn? Eppler chose to sign Rendon and Upton– that’s $60MM that could have been spent on pitching. What are the great trades he made? the great players he developed? Whatever he inherited did not impact who he drafted and the inability to develop players. Ohtani did not blossom until Eppler left and the handcuffs were removed by new management. No sir, he did a bad job and would not be my choice.
candymaldonado
“Didn’t blossom until after Eppler left.”
LOL. Ohtani literally won rookie of the year.
“New management took the handcuffs off.”
LOL. 2021 was the first year he had a healthy arm all season. He spent most of Eppler’s tenure recovering from TJ for pitching.
Youre just making stuff up.
PikeParker
carllafong, all the talented people you’re talking about refused to even interview for the Mets job because they already saw what happens with a first-time GM under a crazy meddling owner because of your boy Eppler’s work in Anaheim..
You can’t make this stuff up.
NY_Yankee
Eppler and his failure to secure pitching is why they the Angels just spent 20 out of 20 draft picks on pitching. If they hire him it will not turn out good.
Dan Hunter
He will say no.
newpony13
One dollar bet he says yes.
Dan Hunter
He has to go back to sunny California to discuss with his family who will promptly tell him no way even if you are offered 20 mill.
BEISBALL
lol eppler? metsfan22 is a better choice did he rejected the job to be here 24/7?
Samuel
I was let to believe the lawyer was a shoo-in for the position.
mustang
He was good with the Yankees but has done nothing afterwards.
Look at the Angles.
NYMetsFanatic
It’s unfair to compare what he did with one team to what he did with another team. Two different owners, two different budgets, etc.
carllafong
Actually both teams are very similar in every way. They both have the same overall organizational issues and year after year have similar disappointing outcomes. Eppler had a huge budget and the best player in the game, and yet added no pitching but chose to spend $30MM on Rendon and $28MM this year on Upton who will probably be DFAd. Not a single .500 season in five years… with Trout. Eppler did a horrible job. Horrible job drafting and managing money. He hired Ausmus to manage– who was terrible. I’m shocked the Mets think he’s the future and the best candidate.
Samuel
At the press conference when Rendon was signed, his agent (Scott Boras) talked about how that came about…..
When he was negotiating with Artie over Derrick Cole (with premier players looking for long-term contract Boras will deal directly with the owner due to the possibility that the GM / POBO may leave before the players’ contract expires) Artie mentioned that even if the Cole thing didn’t work out, would Boras please tell Rendon that he – Artie – was interested in him.
I’m not wild about Eppler, but Rendon (who I like a lot) was an Artie demand……
And since Eppler will back off from powerful owners (we do after all have to follow what the person paying us is asking be done) than Mr. Eppler is a very good candidate to work for Mr. Cohen.
Keithyim
Stop being obtuse.
SashaBanksFan
Andy Dufresne is that you?
nukeg
Is it deliberate?
jbryant0693
One team that is bad at scouting and development hires another team’s GM who oversaw a failed scouting and development group, Makes sense.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Yeesh. After the job Eppler did with the Angels, I feel more qualified. At least I realize good pitching is important.
the outlaw
Has he accepted the job ?
Dan Hunter
No.
Thankfully.
Canosucks
He has to be better than Brodie Van Lunchwagon; stuck with Cano for 2 more years at 20+ million a pop and Diaz who can’t pitch under the bright lights; lets give it a chance if he accepts as Artie made all the calls like Rendon anyway.
MarlinsFanBase
If the goal is to get a better GM than Brodie, that’s a very low bar.
Canosucks
Not the goal to be better than Brodie just my low expectations at this point on what they will get; just a realist.
The glass is half full…
Agreed however there is no bar lower than BVW
AngelsAdvocate
This writes itself.
notagain27
Now he will hire Ausmus as Manager
Deleted_User
Have they offered it to MetsFan22 yet?
Dustyslambchops23
They are still at metsfan17, 5 more rejections to go
SoCalBrave
amazing! lmao
nukeg
Billy Eppler is the reason Shohei Ohtani is wearing an Angels uniform.
I liked Eppler a lot and felt that he was constrained by Artes financial constraints more so than his own GM skill set.
Bill M
That type of optimism has no place on here, sir. Please rewrite your post and be sure to include the word, “mutts.”
NYMetsFanatic
LMAO!
padam
Constrained? I believe he dumped close to a billion on just a few – Pujols, Rendon, Upton, and Trout. And while Trout is worth every penny, the dollars are heavy on the bats.
carllafong
Eppler wasn’t responsible for Pujols– that was DiPoto, but it took Minassian to DFA him, which should have been done earlier.
padam
Thank you. Wasn’t exactly sure, but thought he may have. I stand corrected.
nukeg
I think you guys are forgetting the early years of Epplers tenure. He was the Angels GM 2015-2020 and while we remember the last years of pursuing Cole and ending with Rendon, early on his hands were tied. Here’s a clip from MLBTR (2016):
MLBTR 2016: “The Angels made a couple of big trades to shore up the infield, but a payroll crunch led new GM Billy Eppler to address other roster holes in a more cost-conscious way.”
I went back on MLBTR to read their preseason recaps and there wasn’t much money for pitching for the Eppler years.
There were prominent pitchers that probably weren’t going to be an Angel regardless (Strasbourg, Cole, Wheeler, etc), but the one impact pitcher that he probably had a shot with was Hyun Jin Ryu. That may have been an Eppler miss (I don’t know those conversations however).
nukeg
And btw, I’m not an Eppler apologist as I think he made some bonehead moves (Baloquin comes to mind), but I think he is better than what many Internet GMs are saying on here (shocker!).
candymaldonado
Baldoquin was pre-Eppler, and actually a big part of the reason why Eppler was so hamstrung early in his tenure.
nukeg
I stand corrected. Baldoquin was signed in 2015 which was under DiPotos watch. Eppler came right after.
carllafong
Yes, and Minassian is the reason Ohtani is going to win the MVP. Eppler handcuffed Ohtani and imposed rest days despite Ohtani not wanting them. What financial restraints? They were in the top 5 payrolls for his entire tenure? He did not make good use of his money. He chose Rendon over quality pitching and there was pitching available beyond Cole. He drafted horribly. The lack of organizational prospects considering the large number of high draft picks is pathetic. In five years name one great pitching prospect, or free agent pitcher they signed? One great reliever? The job he did was so bad that it’s indefensible.
Grade_1_teacher
The Angels gave Billy Eppler a huge budget and he couldn’t produce a winner. He will fit in just fine with the Mets.
carllafong
Eppler couldn’t get them to .500 in a single season despite having Trout. Eppler is not an inspired choice.
ShootyBabbit
Unfortunately, we seem to be in a point in history, MLB wise, where just about every owner thinks they are the smartest guy in the room, both baseball-wise and in general……hopefully we reach this end of this era soon, though I doubt it
Orel Saxhiser
Most owners are low-key when it comes to baseball decisions. Which ones are you referring to?
refereemn77
Yeah. Our owner is pretty quiet. He does sit for the fan fest every year and do a Q&A though. Which is where I learned from his answer that we’re likely to see the DH in the NL before expansion because the owners as a whole don’t see expansion as an opportunity until the stadium situations in Tampa and Oakland are resolved.
Orel Saxhiser
@refereemn77. Thanks for the interesting response. That’s a fair point about expansion. I’m glad the owners see it that way. Did the owner mention the possibility of a 27th roster spot, or does the universal DH preclude that?
Magnet Salesman
He’s familiar with the obnoxious NY media, held the top job before, and has seemingly passed the vetting process. Seems like this ridiculous saga is coming to an end….
rdiddy75
Billy Idol is more qualified….
Monkey’s Uncle
He turned it down. He couldn’t interview because he’s in a White Wedding. When Cohen found out he gave a Rebel Yell.
rdiddy75
An absolutely classic comment right there!!!
Keithyim
Meh
MLB Top 100 Commenter
It’s a good time to start again.
muskie73
Not that it was Billy Eppler’s fault, but the Angels not only did not advance to the postseason during his tenure, but have since failed to post a winning campaign, baseball’s longest current streak of consecutive losing seasons at six.
carllafong
Excuse me…. it wasn’t Eppler’s fault? Whose fault was it when he didn’t finish a single season at .500, let alone make the playoffs? He’s the genius that invested huge money in the declining Justin Upton who had been discarded by San Diego and then Detroit because of declining numbers. This is the man that did a horrible job drafting despite five years of drafting #12 or better. Failed in nearly all of his free agency signings. Latin American signs were bad. He did sign Ohtani, but handcuffed him by imposing limitations that were ridiculous– and the year after Eppler left Ohtani was allowed to actually play full-time and now he’s going to win an MVP. Horrible, horrible job in every respect.
JackStrawb
@carllafong Eppler also never finished closer than 21 GB in a full season. Amazing record. And the Mets? They need pitching more than anything—so they got the GM more notorious than any other for failing to find pitching.
Down with OBP
Maybe he’ll hire callaway as a coach again.
positively_broad_st
Klentak must have missed his phone call…
Dunk Dunkington
Sad!
Once considered one of the up and coming Front office executives in the business, now has to consider taking the Mets GM job or not.
That is rough, maybe we should start a good fund me page or something, since he is having hard times.
carllafong
Eppler did a horrible job with the Angels. Our prospect list is in the bottom seven in all of baseball. The Angels did not achieve a single .500 season in five years despite having Trout, Ohtani, a big budget, huge fan base and everything anyone could want. Why oh why would this be the choice of the Mets– other than this franchise seems to mirror the Angels each year in failure?
Mjm117
Lolmets
metsfan1992
Keithyim
Good point
Poster formerly known as . . .
“… although as Maria Torres of the L.A. Times explored at the time of that 2019 signing, owner Arte Moreno’s fixation on acquiring Rendon pre-dated Eppler’s hiring as general manager.”
Perhaps the last sentence in Mr. Adams’ article above should have been: “The defense rests.” A whole lotta rationalization going on.
If a GM agrees to hand out a massive contract to a player because the team’s owner wants that player, the GM has the option of talking his owner/boss out of the deal if he thinks it’s a bad idea (which is what a responsible GM would do), or of resigning his post if he doesn’t want to wear the blame for the deal. If he acquiesces in the deal, he deserves to own the responsibility for it.
We fans enjoy playing GM in comments sections, but the more realistic among us know that we’re hardly qualified for the job — but it’s fun anyway, and no harm done. But I believe that even a majority of fans would tell you that the glaring deficiency in Anaheim has long been starting pitching. And Mr. Eppler failed to adequately address that deficiency.
Putting the blame on his owner is a dodge. If he took the owner’s money in his paycheck and said nothing about the owner’s alleged interference in his decision-making, too bad. Nobody forced him to accept those conditions. Same goes for Aaron Boone if there’s truth to the common suspicion that he lets Cashman and his analytics department meddle in the day-to-day management of the team. If he agreed to be a puppet, that’s his fault.
Samuel
@ Mr. Person;
Have you ever worked for someone?
Poster formerly known as . . .
Yeah. How about you?
Samuel
So you tell them what they’re allowed to tell you to do – especially when they’re a self-made billionaire and want to make multi-million dollar investments?
Poster formerly known as . . .
You miss the point, Samuel.
If you agree to accept a position in which a condition of your employment is to fall on your sword and take the blame for your boss’s bad judgment, you don’t get to use his bad judgment as an excuse for resultant failures. If your reputation or your autonomy means more to you than the money, you don’t take the job or you resign when you feel your principles would be compromised if you stayed.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
As the GM, as long as you tell the owner why you disagree, you are going to take your paycheck and follow orders. Just the good owners rarely micromanage.
Poster formerly known as . . .
In 1995, Knicks coach Pat Riley resigned his post, citing “questions about authority and final decision-making.”
Knicks management disputed his account, saying it was about money and Riley’s demand for part ownership. Whatever the reason, he quit.
The Penguins’ longtime GM Jim Rutherford resigned last January citing “personal reasons.” The rumor at the time was that he quit over ownership’s refusal to allow a trade he wanted to make. Whether or not he was right or wrong to quit, it’s what he did.
padam
Not happy with the decision to offer him the role and hope he turns it down. He knows how to spend, but question his strategic thinking. Other than Ohtani, not sure there’s much else to applaud.
RobM
Eppler was well-respected, has GM experience, and knows NY.
Probably won’t get a better option than this.
Curious though that he has to go back and talk with his family. You mean, they didn’t discuss this at all before he met with Cohen????
solaris602
If he takes the job at least the Mets have a GM and can now start interviewing for a manager. They could do worse than Eppler – he has actual GM experience. Most of the Mets’ other targets told them up front they didn’t even want to interview or weren’t permitted by their teams. Nobody is saying he’s the best available, but so far he’s the best available who is willing to consider the job.
JackStrawb
No, he’s not “well-respected.” He’s a proven failure.
Inside Out
Wow really couldn’t find anyone any good willing to work Cohen and Alderson. It will very funny if even this disaster of a GM turns it down.
socalbball
Eppler’s problem with the Angels was an inability to build a major league pitching staff. He did a good job rebuilding a trashed farm system without doing a fire sale of the major league roster. I think his position player acquisitions were fine. For whatever reason, the Angels were never able to close the deal on signing top quality pitching.
JackStrawb
That must be why the Angels farm was #25 when Eppler left despite always drafting at #12 or above.
Vizionaire
eppler may not be a bad gm but with a nosy owner he may turn out bad. and don’t let him fall for fast fastball bullpen pitchers.
Angels & NL West
Dipoto has had success post Artie Moreno. Eppler may do the same. If so, this would speak volumes about Moreno.
Canosucks
As a boyhood Mets fan who lives out in Angle Honk land and is an Angel fan also; does not conflict and would be a great problem if it ever does I would be happy with Eppler as after 11 years of Artie Moreno micromanaging and ignoring pitching I don’t think you can blame Eppler a bit on Angel history as pointed out look at Dipoto post Artie… so again I would be very happy!
Enrico Pallazzo
Hey buddy. We heard you were a yes man that would allow the owner to impose his will and make you dance like a puppet. Soooo you want to do that again? Ok perfect, here’s your blue hat and your new puppet strings. See ya Monday morning.
JOHNSmith2778
How many jobs allow employees to not do what the owner says?
Boe Jiden
So while every team has ownership sign off or at least be aware of big trades or signings, it’s widely known Moreno makes all the decisions in Anaheim. Eppler was a puppet. He had nowhere near the autonomy that Friedman has in LA or Zaidi does now in SF.
Working for Cohen and Aldersom just seems like a terrible gig. Alderson is a dinosaur stuck in the past and Cohen is another owner acts like a fan like Moreno does.
JOHNSmith2778
You think Cohen was telling the GM or manager who to play 3B last year? Or what the batting order should be? If you look at the past year of GM moves, the Mets signed Lindor which you agree an owner should be involved in and then what? The GM got fired for something he did 2 jobs ago then the next guy in line got a DUI and eventually fired. Cohen’s got money which is what every GM wants.
Boe Jiden
No, I don’t think Cohen is telling the manager who to play 3B. What a stupid thing to say. I in no way insinuated that.
I think ownership is the money. They should hire people they trust to make baseball decisions and stay out of the way. Moreno and Cohen are not baseball minds. They are businessmen. That’s it. Be the money and be smart enough to let the real baseball minds do their jobs.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Not the most inspired choice. But if Cohen and Anderson are taking the lead anyway, it may not matter much. I will be curious to see how many years the deal is for.
Chemo850
You mean months, right?
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I meant the length of the contract, not the amount of time until he is released.
30 Parks
Crossing the streams – the Mets & Angels. “There’s something very important I forgot to tell you.”
NY_Yankee
All the big names the Mets went after and ended up with Eppler, that is like trying to get Gal Gagot to the prom and ending up with Harley Quinn.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Tbh Harley Quinn is more my type – unpredictable landmines – which also explains why I’m still single.
meckert
To quote the late former Vice President Spiro Agnew: Nattering nabobs of negativism! Hopeless hysterical hypochondriacs! Actually it was Pat Buchanan who penned those descriptions. Appropriate to many commentators here nevertheless.
JackStrawb
What are you jabbering on about?
bradthebluefish
Angels were OK with him at the helm. Underwhelming hire but should be good. He know the NY market well for what it’s worth.
bobtillman
Contract Details:
(1) Kiss Sandy Alderson’s backside
(2) Kiss Alderson’s Son’s backside
(3) Above all, wipe off lips and enter Mr. Cohen’s office.
meckert
Such erudition! Bravo! Your talents are wasted here, pearls before swine.
bigdaddyhacks
Lol.
Keithyim
Good observation
Milwaukee-2208
Most peoples reactions to the Mets is Lol
Robrock30
I am liking this Billy Eppler hire. I liked him with the Angels and thought he did some things well there and has experience with the Yankees and Brian Cashman. Ohtani was a major score, liked Simmons for SS, I like his draft record. Hopefully he has learned from some mistakes along the way.
JackStrawb
How’s it going, Met intern? The Angels’ farm was #25 when Eppler left. He drafted no one making any sort of mark. He wrecked an Angels team that had finished above .500 10 years out of 12, that finished 1st 6 of those 12 years, after which Eppler never finished better than 21 games out.
21 games out. But you like him. Sure.
M.C.Homer
The farm system was the worst in major league history when Eppler arrived according to Keith Law.
Amazins
Mets needed a guy from the outside, this roster needs some moves, and a new guy with no strings attached to anyone. Pieces in play, Smith, Davis, McNeil. Moves to make or not – Thor (yes), Conforto, Stroman (no to both, I get to play too.). Matz? Maybe, interesting, always thought he could be another Matlack. What about the kids – Baty and Vientos? This guys better sign, he’s already behind. LGM
Orel Saxhiser
Mets GM and Luis Rojas news on the same day. If you think the negativity here is bad, head on over to Metsmerized or Amazin’ Avenue. Some fan bases are happy being unhappy.
Amazins
Some people are not happy unless they’re miserable. Takes no talent to be negative and cynical.
JackStrawb
Better to say it takes no cerebral cortex to be mindlessly cheerful, and to pretend that factual notes are somehow “negative.”
nukeg
Some people wake up and want to throw a brick at the sun…
…then they sign into the MLBTR comments section.
thisredsoxfan
I’m curious as to who he will hire as manager.
I hope it’s not Brad Ausmus!
5toolMVP
Mike Scioscia?
NYMetsFanatic
Most likely it will be Showalter.
Yankeesfan23
Called it!
Jgwi2az
Ooops Billy Epler was just arrested for….
Juuuuust kidding
Louholtz22
So glad half of this charade is finally over. Now hire Mike Schildt and get deGrom to convince Thor to stay. Move away from Baez
Rsox
At least Eppler has experience being nothing but a figurehead and dealimg with an overbearing owner who has final say on everything
Milwaukee-2208
*Epler arrested for sexual assault*
nukeg
Again?
julyn82001
Finally a hiring! Whew!
the outlaw
He has now officially worked for the sports wealthiest owners. And absolutely nothing to show for it.
angt222
angt222
I like it
baseballguy_128
Give it a month lol
DarkSide830
cue the laugh track…
prov356
This will be a perfect opportunity for Eppler to prove his failures with the Angels were because of Moreno’s restrictions on spending. I hope he does well with an owner who isn’t afraid to spend for the right players.
True2theorange&blue
So far signing lindor and McCaan has been money out the window
JackStrawb
Hilarious. The Angels gave Eppler Mike Trout’s prime, and a payroll never less than 11th in MLB, but somehow it might be someone else’s fault that Eppler always finished 21 games out—or worse? Sure. Sure, he’s not a proven failure. Sure, kid.
The worst of this? Eppler’s record is demonstrable proof that Adam Cromie was actually a far better choice. At least Cromie lacks Eppler’s continual, hopeless record of failure. If not for the Mets Billy Eppler would never have gotten a job inside baseball again.
prov356
Jack – You don’t watch the specifics on the Angels to know the dynamics. Eppler was one of several GMs we have had that have faced the same failure with one constant – Moreno. Moreno wants the big bat and is willing to pay for it because homeruns sell tickets. Pitching duels, on the other hand, are boring to short attention span viewers. Moreno is a business man first so he buys what will make him money: Pujols, Hamilton, Rendon, et al.
The “11th or better” (assuming that’s accurate – I didn’t confirm) payroll during Eppler’s time in Anaheim was position player and bat centric. If you look at the history over the last 10 seasons, lack of pitching has been the only thing people have been critical about. Moreno has refused to spend for pitching with a few exceptions. So using payroll rank alone without looking at where it has been spent and saying that it equates to Eppler is a failure is disingenuous.
Eppler was a first time GM in Anaheim. If the Mets continue their lack of success under him, then you can start looking at Eppler as the problem. But you have a wealthy owner who isn’t afraid to spend. I believe Eppler will have the budget he didn’t have in Anaheim.
fisher40
At least the Mets won’t be going after Stearns in a year from now. He’s signing a contract extension before spring training or even before. Mets…. dumpster Fire of a Franchise
Dan Hunter
have you actually seen a dumpster fire?
I have and it is very entertaining.
Camden453
Well, it could be worse than Eppler. He really didn’t get a fair shot in LA so we’ll see how it goes
YaGottaBelieveAgain
Did we sign any free agents yet or make any Trades? Giddyup. Immediately IF not sooner.
Please Thor we need to keep you in our Starting Staff. Accept the QO or work out a 2 or 3 year contract with upgrades based on health and innings pitched with options or opt outs if you prefer.
My fellow Americans, Our Long National Nightmare is Over.
You thought Watergate was bad.
Is there a wild celebration in the Citifield parking lot. What does Google earth show?.
Please return to your normal lives and extinguish your Novena candles.
A white puff of smoke can be seen coming out of the Top hat with the Big Apple.
No wait thats just the exhaust from a ’68 Camaro being worked on in a nearby auto repair station. — Nevermind.
YA GOTTA BELIEVE AGAIN !!!
… Says the Souls/Spirits of G. Hodges, Yogi Berra, Seaver, McGraw, Staub, Carter, Agee, Kiner, Murphy, Nelson and more RIP
BirdieMan
Yeah, he did such a marvelous job with the Angels…..
YaGottaBelieveAgain
And all the NYM fans lived happily ever after is the ending of tonights bedtime story.
Good Night. What is NYM Black Friday surprises??? Stay Tuned. Same bat channel same …
As The Big Apple Turns… Tune in tomorrow for the next exciting episode.
budman_63755
He has experience in spending money.
MarlinsFanBase
I can’t wait to see the statements from the Mets homers.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Again, if Cohen and Anderson are calling the shots, then they found a good “team” player. The Lindor signing was an overpay. Let us see if Correa and Seager get as much as Lindor despite being at least as good, I doubt either will get the years and dollars of Lindor suggesting Lindor was an overpay.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Lol
All the sissies and their mute button……lol
Not what I expected to read on a NYC site….but hey it’s Billy Crystal’s Mets……. Lol
They got injured, didn’t they?
Long live Tom Seaver! Not a wus!
stewartnbuck
Mets fans can expect over paid busts and no pitching
seaver41
No to Brad Ausmus…..guy is terrible
RodKanehlJesseGonder
My big worry is he will want to make a big splash and do something stupid like his predecessors BVW (taking on Cano’s contract) or Cohen (overpaying Lindor for next 10 yrs). Not the best way to build a team.
Braves Butt-Head
If they were smart they’d hire Ron Washington but they arent.
seaver41
hahahahahahahahaha…..Ron’s better coaching along the ‘white lines’
homegrown
Anyone else think they should have just promoted Dick Scott?
Robrock30
I applaud the Mets hiring of Billy Eppler at this Time to their FO. His greatest hits IMO were the Ohtani score which was huge, the Trout extension, the Andrelton Simmons trade for the LHP Sean Newcomb who is no David Lester and some of his draft choices. He never sniffed the postseason though with losing records in His 5 years with the Angels who had $ to spend and didn’t reverse Team culture or improve the pitching, or Farm System.
He needs to cut a strong deal leaving him with full autonomy and watch out above and below for the Alderson sandwich or else he will get crushed and be the next fall guy up. LOL
Robrock30
Make that Jon not David Lester.
bravesfan
At first, I said to myself, wow… what a rough hire. But then I looked at their last two/three gems. Now this guy looks like a freaking god. Lol. Mets are just the worse lol
Robrock30
Bravesfan,
Eppler won the Andrelton Simmons trade for Sean Newcomb I hate to remind you.
He should be a net positive for the Mets but will he move the needle enough to overcome the Braves machine is dubious IMO.
Robrock30
I of course was bullish on the the Simmons for Newcomb trade as I knew that Simmons was elite defensively and knew his offense was capable of improving to be a plus while Newcomb had control issues adversely affecting his potential. I was right.
I also lobbied hard for Ohtani to choose the Angels behind the scenes and was ecstatic when he landed. I nailed the original 1st one not current Trout extension terms nearly to a tee prior to the ink drying.
sox4ever
Reminder that the Mets chose Brodie Van Wagenen over Chaim Bloom lol
Robrock30
Sox4ever,
Everybody in NY the fans & media both knew Bloom was the right hire 3 years ago but the Wilpons wanted Son Jeff’s golfing buddy and to hire the agent that hooked them up with most of their Players to save $ on a Degrom deal ( conflict of interest ) and they didn’t want a rebuild prior to a Team sale. This set them back a decade.
MetsFan22
“Set them back a decade” lol I laugh sometimes
PikeParker
I was really kinda hoping to see J.P. Ricciardi as Mets GM. He’s already got “blame ownership” on his resume.
$crewBaLL
“Mets will wait it out for Brewers GM David Sterns” sure they will
seaver41
bottom line here is the Mets did ok at THIS point considering what is out there and how many have declined. At least NYC won’t scare him. His first move may be his most important -the idiot manager. Just don’t go Ausmus. Not a winner. After that he needs to get cracking on the rotation – no more Thor to disappoint us. Who knows how many 5 inning starts Jacob has in him for 2022. Stroman could be gone too. Lots of work to be done..
Bob333
Eppler is the greatest and best out there and going to take us to the world series.LMAO
He just agreed to be puppet of the year and to wipe Cohen after evey dump.
detroitdave84
Theo Epstein winner in Boston & Chicago but they choose a guy who lost in LAA for 5 years. Makes Mets sense!
Rsox
Theo wanted no part of the Flushing Dumpster Fires
Bob333
Even Klentak was to smart to take this job.That is scary
nukeg
Eppler has the talent to be an MLB GM. I think this is good for baseball that Epplers mind is in the game.
dodger1958
There is very little in his tenure with the Angels to suggest he will be a successful GM. Not to he won’t (but with Alderson, Alderson & Cohen) I am not optimistic. He is like the number ten pick, if reports are to be believed.
waterdog311
Lol…somebody said yes! I actually saw someone in the subway station in Queens Sunday asking for change while holding a sign that said “I want to be the next Mets GM”…I told him good luck. I don’t believe it was Eppler, but he did have a hat on.
dasit
FWIW during his time with the yankees he developed a first-rate pro scouting department that continues to pay dividends (urshela, voit, holmes to name just a few)
the angels were a dumpster fire when he took over so this is not the first time he’ll inherit an organizational mess with a high-maintenance owner. i’m rooting for him to succeed
BruntlettSupastar
They asked OJ yesterday and he turned them down so Eppler was it.
M.C.Homer
Persuaded Ohtani to come and Trout to stay. Talked Scioscia into stepping down to the joy of many who thought that impossible…
3 pretty monumental accomplishments.
Drafts were ok. Weak on pitching obviously. Likes athletes for sure.
This is a good hire.
Give him a chance.
NYMetsFanatic
Mets: Stop wasting time! Get Eppler taken care of already and get his @$$ signing quality players and coaches ASAP!! No wonder why we’re the laughing stock of the MLB. Can’t you do ANYTHING right?? JC, I’m so tired of this b.s. slow motion crap. Pull your head out of your butt and get busy!!!!!
JackStrawb
This must be a sick joke. When Eppler got to the Angels they were the Cardinals of the AL West, finishing above .500 nearly every year, finishing 1st half the time. With Eppler, though? They never reached .500 even once, never finished better than—check this—21 games out.
The Angels gave Eppler Mike Trout’s prime, and he turned them into a laughingstock. Eppler gave Matt Harvey 1/$11m—in 2018! The Mets are desperate for good, durable starting pitching, so what did they do? They hired the one man in baseball who has proven, beyond any doubt, that he cannot find pitching. This is the lolMets of all lolMets moves. It’s historically, historically awful.
NYMetsFanatic
Dude, give the guy a chance. He hasn’t even gotten there yet! I know Eppler’s history now in 2 days better than I know my own. I get it; he’s been a real screw up and a yes man. I’m not taking his side here, but you got to give the guy a chance. This is a new opportunity with a new front office giving him different perspective. Let’s see what happens. I mean, everyone’s condemning it to hell and back already, so what’s the absolute worst that can happen? It can only get better than how everyone is describing it to play out in this comments section. I’ll laugh my ass off if they actually make it to October this upcoming year by some wacky parallel universe chance in hell.
JackStrawb
Why, my friend? This is pure theater. Cohen and Alderson don’t know much, but like anyone capable of basic projections they know the Mets are going nowhere in 2022-23 and don’t have enough of a farm to seriously contend before 2025, and probably before 2026. (Notice how the four year frame of Eppler’s deal fits snugly into this calendar.)
For all his bluster Cohen’s going nowhere near the $300m payroll these Mets will need to take aim at the Braves in 2022 and 2023. Cohen may be bad at running the Mets but he’s not a complete fool. Billy Eppler is here because the Mets needed somebody in the job and they needed someone to take the fall when the Mets actively repel their fans in the next two-three years.
Eppler’s not the first guy to be hired to play the sap, and he won’t be the last.
The worst part, though? Every year that passes lets Bryn Alderson pad his resume that much more. At this point Bryn is the favorite to become the Mets GM in 2024. Cohen is nothing if not a cronyist. It’s what he has always done. I doubt he’s changing in his mid-60s.
M.C.Homer
Eppler inherited a huge mess made by DiPoto, compounded by Moreno.
Pitching challenged? Yes. I agree.
But hey, the Angels havn’t been good since the demons came out and Kendry Morales broke his ankle on that walk off in…2010?
Waddupitsyahboy
Which mess was it DiPoto left? If you’re thinking the Pujols contract, then look at who DiPoto has both signed and extended players for his time in Seattle: his track record the last 6 years has shown it was way over him on bringing Pujols to Anaheim. Seattle gave him the chance to build the farm and team he wanted, now it’s turning out.
DiPoto I am sure had his hands tied his time there and it was not his mess leaving.
Rsox
Pujols was all Arte as the Cardinals and Marlins were the perceived front runners for Albert til the Angels came out of nowhere.
Josh Hamilton was all also Arte as DiPoto wanted to re-sign Grienke but Arte wanted another hitter.
C.J. Wilson wasn’t terrible. And even though Joe Blanton didn’t work out at least it was only a two year deal.
Arte is the common denominator in most of the Angels bad signings. Like when he spent big on Jose Guillen and had to trade him after one season because he couldn’t get along with Scioscia. Or spending big on Gary Matthews Jr. One season and then out bidding himself for Torii Hunter the very next winter
M.C.Homer
I’m not talking free agents. Ok, not all DiPoto, he finished what Tony Reagins started. Gutted the farm system.
The system was the worst in major league history when Eppler arrived according to Keith Law.
M.C.Homer
Moreno compounded (made things worse), means his side of this mess came via decisions regarding most (not all) of the free agents signed in the last 10 years.
Stoneman was the only one who could steer him straight. Once Bill retired, things went sideways..The truth
Bob333
He is a kiss ass and his career was over years ago.He is a perfect fit since he does not need to worry about ever getting another job.
Cohens_Wallet
Well if BOB said it then…
Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey
Bold of them to assume that he’ll last one season, let alone four
JackStrawb
@Kirk Nieuwenhuis For MVP
The Cohen-Alderson Mets need a multiyear fall guy. Billy’s perfect for the job. It’s like watching a corpse being embalmed, the smile sewn into place, the suit stapled on….
It’s nightmarish, really
HalosHeavenJJ
So looking forward to the “this was a guy we wanted all along” press conference.
Mets fans, be ready to have bullpen arms acquired based on velocity and nothing else and drafts to be geared around raw athletes with boom or bust potential.
Canosucks
Long before Eppler it has always been the Mets philosophy to sign pitchers solely on velocity; Look at Paul Sewald who the Mets let go for nothing because he was a pitcher and not a flame thrower; doing pretty well in Seattle.
As a boyhood Mets fan and an Angel Honk living out here in Anaheim I do get your point but has to be better than BVW and Eppler has done time in NYC.
At least I can still root for Thor! 🙂
If Stroman leaves which I believe he will the Mets rotation will be in serous trouble and other pitchers may not want to even come so Eppler is going to have a serious challenge on his hands even if he does get a big purse.
Bob333
Why is it taking so long to sign him.Cohen making sure he has his lap dog.Sucked in LA with getting pitching and the Muts biggest need is pitching funny how things work out.I don’t think he will be allowed to do anything between Alderson’s and Cohen he will be a figure head and take all the blame.
metsfan1992
Bob333 FO GFY. Go get laid.
Cohens_Wallet
Dude you need a job, something that’ll occupy your time with more than just haterade.
Sometimes you hate so much it gives off the perception that your wife left you for a Mets fan.
Sorry.
AllAboutBaseball
The LOL Mets
Dan Hunter
Heyman reports Showalter hired as manager for Mets.
gbs42
I’m disappointed MetsFan22 didn’t get the job.
True2theorange&blue
Guarantee he doesn’t even make it to year 3
NYMetsFanatic
He won’t. I agree.
baseballguy_128
or month 3
JackStrawb
He’ll make it to year 3. That’ll be the 3rd consecutive year the Mets don’t crack .500, and that’s how long Cohen needs a fall guy.
NYMetsFanatic
Sure let’s waste two more days on Eppler. It’s not like there are prime free agents out there that are getting offers left and right. We’ve got all the time in the world, right?
Sydney Nusinov
Every player acquisition you mentioned in this article is trash and most of them aren’t even on the Angels anymore.
Willzsco
The Mets should make Bobby Bonilla the GM.
Bill M
Only the 4999th time we’ve been forced to read that
Mr Smith
Lol! Eppler Sucks
snakqadj
Mets going 4th place in the division now 🙂
baseballguy_128
Should we take bets on for how long?
LordD99
The biggest issue Eppler will have is recruiting talent. Alderson’s words indicate Eppler will have no job security as they will continue to search for a PoBO, perhaps Stearns a year on. That means anyone Eppler recruits will have no job security.
Cohen and Alderson have set him up to fail.
citizen
Eppler to become Mets gm to get closer to son mr met.
extreme113
Brian Sabean is still available – just sayin’.
JackStrawb
@extreme113 C’mon, man. Would you really want the winningest GM in this century who is still employed by the 107 win Giants, or a guy who has never had a winning season?
We’ve been Eppled!
M.C.Homer
He’s your man now Mets fans.
Could they have done better?
Not much IMO.
I’ll let time be the final judge.
But this organization could have CONTINUED to do far worse.
JackStrawb
@M.C.Homer In fact, no. Eppler IS demonstrably about the worst they could have done.
Never had a .500 record. Was handed peak Mike Trout, at 23 years of age. It was in Eppler’s 4th year on the job that he decided to spend his pitching money, $11 million, on Matt Harvey.
Matt Harvey.
Eppler never drafted worse than 12th but left the farm he inherited at #27, at #25 after five years.
Eppler only got worse as time passed: .475, .494, .494, .444, .433.
Eppler was always between 6th and 11th in annual payroll.
The saps will tell you it was all mean Arte Moreno’s fault. Sure. Moreno forced Eppler to draft horribly. Moreno forced Eppler to throw away Trout’s prime. Sure. That’s what happened.
BuhnerBuzzCut
Lowered expectations
wallabeechamp
Wow. They couldn’t even land Josh Byrnes.
LOLMets
JackStrawb
@wallabeechamp Consider this, amigo: Cohen and Alderson didn’t even have the guts to bet on their judgment with regard to a team going absolutely nowhere for the next three years.
They could have decided to offer the job to the best assistant GM in baseball. Even the 2nd or 3rd best would have been fine. (They could have gone with the guy who won the 2010, 2012, 2014 World Series, for that matter. They could have even gone with Showalter as GM, a clearly superior choice.)
Instead they went with one of the few former GMs in the game who is a demonstrable, proven failure. It can’t be arguable, since by the record if Eppler’s not a failure, the word has no meaning.
A young guy with a much better track record, one of the game’s great, innovative brains? No.
One of the game’s most successful performers as an executive? No.
Amazing Mets, indeed.