In a recent podcast appearance, former Mets team president Sandy Alderson denied being the anonymous whistleblower who tipped off Major League Baseball about former Mets general manager Billy Eppler’s scheme to fabricate injuries to create roster spots. Eppler was suspended by MLB after a four-month probe confirmed the allegations. Alderson stated that he was not a fan of Eppler but was not involved in sending the letter to MLB.
Alderson reassured that he had knowledge of Eppler’s practices and took steps to stop them during his tenure with the Mets. He mentioned that such practices were not widespread in baseball but did acknowledge instances where the injured list was misused. Alderson also revealed that he had once engaged in such behavior in the 1980s with regret and never repeated it.
The anonymous letter from a Mets employee led to MLB’s investigation, which ultimately resulted in Eppler’s suspension and resignation from the Mets. Alderson, who had previously held the team president position, distanced himself from the scandal and mentioned that he would have communicated directly with MLB if he had concerns.
The incident has shed light on the issue of phantom injuries in baseball and sparked discussions about its prevalence in the league. Despite the controversy, Alderson emphasized that he believes such practices should not be widespread, and MLB’s actions were necessary to address the issue.
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