In the earliest days of Billy Eppler’s newborn tenure as general manager of the Mets, his boss, the multi-billionaire team owner Steve Cohen, has made sure Eppler understands at least one thing: The Mets are not afraid to spend money this winter.
“We’re going to kick it into high gear,” Eppler said in his introductory Zoom press conference.
Friday, Eppler became the one to finally end the Mets’ seven-week front office search — a process that Cohen called “a major time suck.” As the club’s newest GM revealed his vision for the Mets, which in the short term will include improving the roster by spending in free agency, the takeaway became clear. Cohen has informed his top lieutenants, Eppler and team president Sandy Alderson, that his deep pockets should be used as a powerful tool this offseason.
“In my conversations with Steve and getting a sense of understanding our resources, we’ll be able to take a little bit of bigger swings in free agency,” Eppler said. “I don’t think anything is ruled out.”
Is it that simple? Can Mets fans start dreaming of a field that features some of the top and expensive players in this year’s free agency class? The answer to that is a bit more refined.
Cohen’s job as owner is to provide his team with resources, and his $11 billion net worth should not be dismissed. While he indicated he’ll spend on the Mets’ immediate needs — like pitching, outfield, and infield help — he’ll also lean on Eppler and Alderson to be smart about how that money is being spent. Cohen is committed to building a championship caliber team for years to come, Eppler said. The former Angels GM, who before that spent a decade as a scout and assistant GM in the Yankees front office, is ecstatic to get to work with that demanding goal in mind.
“We want to win our division and be in the playoffs and get deep into the playoffs,” Cohen said. “We’ve got to field a team that has the ability to do that. I’ve let Billy and Sandy know that it’s whatever they need, and I’m open to their suggestions and recommendations. The goal is to put a very competitive team on the field.”
That goal fell awfully short in Cohen’s first year as owner. The Mets did spend over 100 days in first place, but they also sustained injuries to key players (the big Jacob deGrom ‘What if?’ season) and underperformed on offense the entire year. On Friday, Cohen and company sounded as sure as they’ll ever be about Eppler, who called New York a “magical place,” being the right executive to reverse the Mets’ 2021 misfortunes.
“I think this city teaches patience, resiliency, and humility,” said Eppler, who served as the Yankees’ assistant GM from 2011-15. “There’s really no other place like it, it’s special and I miss it.”
The Mets would rather build their team by spending in free agency than trading away top prospects in their top-heavy, but otherwise depleted, farm system. While Cohen remains hungry to spend, the Mets are focused on bolstering their system for sustained, long-term success. It should help, then, that the Mets are expected to receive six draft picks in 2022 due, in part, to Noah Syndergaard declining their qualifying offer and signing with the Angels. If free agent outfielder Michael Conforto follows Syndergaard’s path and leaves New York, which is expected, the Mets will receive another draft pick as compensation.
Eppler has a track record of signing top tier free agents, like Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon, but not all of them worked out, like one-year flyers on Matt Harvey, Julio Teheran, Tim Lincecum and others. Even so, Eppler’s familiarity with rival executives and agents and his ability to woo flashy free agents may help the Mets be aggressive this winter.
“Our budget today without even signing anybody is already at $185 million or so, and if we’re going to find the right type of talent, it’s either going to be trades with other clubs or free agents,” Cohen said. “We don’t really have a lot in our farm system to supplement what we need. It’s going to require spending. That’s what’s going to happen. I’ve let Billy know that I’m willing — for the right deals and right free agents — to go get the players we need. We want to be competitive.”
Since Eppler was hired more than a month into the offseason, he plans to hit the ground running on what he called a “sizable list of things to do.” That agenda includes naming a manager, hiring a coaching staff, addressing the roster, assessing the free agent and trade markets, and getting to know the Mets’ existing baseball operations group.
Alderson, who served GM duties from September, when the Mets placed acting GM Zack Scott on administrative leave, to the time of Eppler’s hiring, said Eppler will report to him. Still, Alderson said he expects Eppler “to be driving this operation.” Alderson added: “I don’t expect to be heavily involved, but I will be available to Billy and whatever input he desires, I’ll provide.” While Eppler may lean on Alderson early in his tenure, the Mets expect their new GM to expand his role as time goes on.
“We’re dealing with someone with a vast array of experiences. He’s a pro,” Cohen said of Eppler. “He knows a lot about the game, he’s worked under some really good people. We were just impressed by his communication skills, his knowledge of the game. I think the players in the locker room are just going to enjoy communicating with him, talking to him. I think he brings a lot of different skill sets to the table and I think that’s what this organization needed.”
