Billy

Eppler

According to Major League Baseball’s investigation, Eppler — who resigned as New York’s general manager last October — was found to have engaged in a pattern of improper use of injured list placements, including the deliberate fabrication of injuries. The big takeaway here for fantasy purposes is that the league appears to be cracking down on so-called phantom injured list roster moves moving forward.

News of the formal league investigation, which was first reported by The New York Post on Thursday evening, comes just a few hours after Eppler resigned from his post as Mets general manager. There aren’t any specifics on how the former executive may have violated league rules at this juncture, but there will certainly be additional details on this story in the near future as it develops. Stay tuned.

The team made the announcement on Thursday evening just a few days after officially hiring former Brewers executive David Stearns to spearhead their front office as their new president of baseball operations. It’ll likely be Stears bringing in a brand-new general manager to assist in front office at some point this offseason. Eppler resigns after two seasons at the helm in New York in which the club went 176-148 with one playoff appearance.

Stearns officially stepped down last October from his position as Brewers president of baseball operations after leading Milwaukee’s front office from 2015 to 2022. He stayed on this season as an advisor to baseball operations for the remainder of his contract, and will apparently take over as the head decision-maker for the Mets moving forward. There should be an official announcement from New York at the conclusion of the regular season.

The hiring hasn’t been officially announced by the Mets, but Beltran has already stepped down from his on-air role with the YES Network. The 45-year-old former big leaguer stepped down as Mets manager nearly three years ago during the fallout from the Astros sign-stealing scandal, resigning before ever managing a game for New York. It’s unclear whether Beltran will ever get another opportunity in a major-league dugout again, but this is at least a big step towards a second chance in baseball.

It’s potentially a big factor, as the Mets are paying the competitive balance tax, and thus they would have to surrender their second and fifth-highest picks in the 2023 draft if they were to sign a qualifying offer free agent. Another factor is that they would also have to give up $1 million from their international bonus pool. Heyman mentions Carlos Rodon as a potential pitcher of interest for the Mets, but he’ll almost certainly receive a qualifying offer from the Giants. With many questions in the Mets’ rotation, this situation could limit their choices in free agency. The Mets are likely to extend qualifying offers to a number of their own free agents, including Jacob deGrom, Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo, Chris Bassitt, and potentially Taijuan Walker. Perhaps that changes the calculus if one or more of those players decline and sign with another team, giving the Mets compensation picks.

He’ll reportedly remain with the team as a consultant after his contract expires in December. Alderson, who was originally hired to serve as the Mets’ GM in 2010, is 74, so one assumes this is it for him as a front-facing member of a team’s front office. Martino says the Mets are already interviewing potential replacements.

The Mets have already signed Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, and Eduardo Escobar, pushing their payroll to the $270 million range, but they might not be done. The impact starting pitchers are mostly off the board, with Carlos Rodon possibly fitting that criteria, though there are still some interesting options on the trade front. The free agent hitter class is a bit deeper, with Kris Bryant standing out as a solid fit. There’s a real chance owner Steve Cohen will push this payroll closer to $300 million by Opening Day. Of course, the lockout still needs to be settled, so this is just speculation for now.

Zauzmer had been the team’s director of analytics, a position he started a year ago after previously being in the Dodgers’ front office. He will be new GM Billy Eppler’s right hand man.

It was the first of three final-round interviews for the gig, with Astros bench coach Joe Espada scheduled for Thursday and Buck Showalter going on Friday. Showalter is believed to be the frontrunner, but Heyman hears that “it’s more ‘divided’ than fans/media expect.” There will presumably be an official hire in place by Christmas.