Billy Eppler resigned as general manager of the New York Mets on Thursday.

Hours after his resignation, it was reported that Major League Baseball is investigating Eppler for improper use of the injured list. According to the New York Post, Eppler decided to resign to avoid being a distraction to the club after MLB informed the Mets of the investigation.

The Post reported that Eppler is expected to cooperate with the probe. The Mets told the paper that it will not comment on an ongoing MLB investigation.

No details of the alleged infraction were provided.

Eppler spent three seasons in the position after serving as GM of the Los Angeles Angels from 2015-20.

But with David Stearns recently hired for the Mets’ president of baseball operations role, Eppler would no longer have been the front office’s lead decision-maker.

“I wanted David to have a clean slate and that meant me stepping down,” Eppler said in a statement. “I hope for nothing but the best for the entire Mets organization.”

Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement: “He decided it is in everyone’s best interest to fully hand over the leadership of baseball operations to David Stearns.”

The Mets are in the market for a general manager as well as a manager, as they let Buck Showalter go at the conclusion of the 2023 regular season.

New York went 75-87 in 2023 despite having the highest Opening Day payroll in baseball at more than $353 million. The front office spending included marquee acquisitions like starting pitchers Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga, as well as keeping outfielder Brandon Nimmo on an eight-year, $162 million deal.

Poor results on the field led the Mets to sell at the trade deadline, shipping out Verlander, fellow ace Max Scherzer, Mark Canha and others.

The Mets went 253-233 in Eppler’s three seasons in the GM role and made one playoff appearance, losing in the wild-card round last year to the San Diego Padres.

–Field Level Media