Mets mercifully end GM search: Who is Billy Eppler?

The New York Mets’ search for a general manager is finally over, as the team is finalizing a deal with Billy Eppler.

The New York Mets have been the brunt of many jokes, as their search for a president of baseball operations was, in a word, disastrous. After many candidates were either declined the chance to interview by their respective teams or turned down the opportunity themselves, the Mets pivoted to finding a general manager. After a stressful search, they finally have their GM.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Mets are finalizing a deal with Billy Eppler to be their next general manager.

Who is Billy Eppler?

As Heyman notes in his tweet above, Eppler does have experience being a part of a New York professional baseball team. He worked as a scout with the Yankees in 2004, before working his way up to becoming the assistant general manager in 2012, working alongside Brian Cashman.

Prior to the Yankees gig, he was a scout with the Colorado Rockies, beginning in 2000.

Eppler received his first general manager gig back in 2015 when he was hired by the Los Angeles Angels. He is no stranger to making a huge splash in free agency, as he was able to sign two-way player Shohei Ohtani to a contract. However, the Angels were never able to make it to the postseason during his time as general manager. After going 332-376 in his tenure, Eppler was fired at the conclusion of the 2020 truncated season.

Now back in New York, Eppler will reportedly be in control of baseball operations and have the final say on baseball manners, per SNY’s Andy Martino.

Once the deal is completed, Eppler will be in charge of finding the Mets’ next manager, a role vacated after the team parted ways with Luis Rojas at the end of this past season.