By Samantha Stephensen
Billy Eppler, Former Los Angeles Angels and New York Mets general manager has been placed on MLB’s ineligible list for improper use of the injured list during this time with the Mets, MLB announced last Friday. It’s a one-season suspension the will end after the conclusion of the 2024 World Series.
The investigation found “the pattern of conduct was at Mr. Eppler’s sole direction and without any involvement of Club ownership or superiors.” MLB considers the matter closed.
“I cooperated fully and transparently with MLB’s investigation, and I accept their decision,” Eppler said in a statement
In October, Eppler stepped down as Mets GM amid a MLB probe that New York had misused the injured list under his orders.
Eppler was found to have used the “phantom” injured list, a practice in which healthy players are placed on the injured list for roster flexibility purposes. For example, a team could put a pitcher on the “phantom” injured list when he is out of minor league options and they don’t want to expose him to waivers. That keeps the pitcher in the organization but off the active roster.
The Mets used the injured list 28 times in 2022 (10th most in baseball) and 25 times in 2023 (11th most in baseball). It didn’t seem to help them at all as the Met’s failed miserably to reach pre-season high expectations.
