BILLY EPPLER

The New York Mets have bolstered their lineup with three free-agent deals, adding speedy center fielder Starling Marte to go along with Mark Canha and All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar.

Billy Eppler embraced the bright lights of the big city, promising on his first day as Mets general manager to pursue pricey free agents and create a perennial World Series contender.

The New York Mets have hired Billy Eppler as their general manager, giving him a four-year contract.

NEW YORK — (AP) — The New York Mets were close to completing a deal Wednesday night to hire Billy Eppler as general manager, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. Eppler and the Mets were nearing a four-year contract, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not finalized. But it appears the Mets have finally found their GM following a ridiculed search that had dragged on for more than six weeks since the 2021 season ended. Eppler is expected to be introduced by the team Friday, and he would become the Mets' fifth head of baseball operations in 13 months. The 46-year-old Eppler was GM of the Angels from 2015-20, overseeing five straight losing seasons.

The New York Mets are close to completing a deal to hire Billy Eppler as general manager, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros in Anaheim, Calif., in this Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, file photo. Mike Trout is back in spring training with the Angels to chase his first playoff victory. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)ANAHEIM, Calif. – Mike Trout is beginning a new season with the same old question. How long will the Los Angeles Angels' three-time AL MVP have to wait for his first playoff victory? Not even the expanded 2020 postseason helped Los Angeles, which finished 26-34 for its fifth straight losing campaign — the franchise's worst stretch since the 1970s.

Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder Manuel Margot (sore foot) was scratched from the lineup. Acuña was scratched Sunday with renewed irritation in his left wrist. Because of the reworked schedule caused by the virus outbreak, the Yankees didn’t play in Cleveland this year.

Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game to earn a playoff birth Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Louis. That’s when the Brewers, at 29-31, open their series against Los Angeles ace Walker Buehler at Dodger Stadium. In a win-and-you’re-in game, St. Louis clinched by beating Milwaukee 5-2. That’s how you see it,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. St. Louis played a total of 58 games — it was prepared for a doubleheader in Detroit on Monday if needed to settle the playoff picture.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels fired general manager Billy Eppler on Sunday after the team finished its fifth consecutive losing season under his watch. The Angels finished 26-34 in the pandemic-shortened season with a star-studded roster including three-time AL MVP Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani. Eppler rebuilt a farm system that was left barren by former GM Jerry Dipoto, and he both signed Trout to a massive contract extension and persuaded Ohtani to bring his two-way talents to the Angels. Yet Eppler never managed to sign enough quality pitchers to prevent Trout's Angels from being a perennial also-ran. Eppler repeatedly guessed wrong in his signings from Matt Harvey to Julio Teheran, leaving the Angels with one of the majors' worst starting rotations for much of his tenure.

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons throws to first to get Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor out on a ground ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons throws to first to get Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor out on a ground ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)ANAHEIM, Calif. – Shortstop Andrelton Simmons has opted out of the remainder of the Los Angeles Angels' season. But the Angels haven't publicly closed the door on Simmons' return, and he could be given a qualifying offer. The Angels haven't had a winning season during Simmons' five years in Anaheim, although Simmons said last week he wasn't discouraged by the lack of team success. Simmons also said he hadn't been involved in any recent contract talks with the Angels, but he had enjoyed playing for the club.

Ohtani is traveling with the Angels to Seattle, where they open a six-game road trip Tuesday night. The Angels also use Ohtani as their primary designated hitter between his mound starts, and he is day-to-day as a hitter, the team said. Ohtani said afterward he was reluctant to throw at his full velocity, but believed he would be capable with time. He went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts during 10 largely successful starts, and he batted .285 with 22 homers as a designated hitter. He spent 2019 solely as the Angels' designated hitter while patiently rehabbing his pitching arm, hitting steadily but not spectacularly.

Trout and his wife, Jessica, are expecting the couple's first child in August. Honestly, I still dont feel that comfortable," he said. The three-time AL MVP continues to have discussions with general manager Billy Eppler and manager Joe Maddon. Trout did leave open the possibility of possibly not playing until the baby arrives. I'm appealing to our guys to be as informed as they can and then arrive at their own truth.

ANAHEIM, Calif. Shohei Ohtani will resume his two-way career with the Los Angeles Angels when baseball returns. Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed Tuesday that his Japanese star will pitch and hit in the majors this season. He wasn't expected to pitch in 2020 until at least May, and Eppler confirmed that the coronavirus pandemic hasn't altered the Angels' plans. Eppler said none of the Angels' players are currently intending to opt out of playing in the shortened season. Eppler confirmed that first-round pick Reid Detmers will be on the Angels' summer roster as the 56th player, although the left-handed starter hasn't officially yet been added.

The league announced Thursday it will starting testing for opioids and cocaine, but has removed marijuana from its list of banned substances. The new program calls for treatment, rather than suspension, for players who test positive for banned substances, MLB and the player's association said. Under the new changes, MLB will test for opioids, Fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The changes come months after the July death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Like alcohol, those who test positive will face mandatory evaluation, voluntary treatment and the possibility of discipline.

The league announced Thursday it will starting testing for opioids and cocaine, but has removed marijuana from its list of banned substances. The new program calls for treatment, rather than suspension, for players who test positive for banned substances, MLB and the player's association said. Under the new changes, MLB will test for opioids, Fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The changes come months after the July death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Like alcohol, those who test positive will face mandatory evaluation, voluntary treatment and the possibility of discipline.