Mets Monday Morning GM: Your move, Billy Eppler

Los Angeles Angels Introduce - Anthony Rendon
Los Angeles Angels Introduce - Anthony Rendon / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/GettyImages

Billy Eppler said a lot of what New York Mets fans were hoping he would during his introductory press conference. The wallet behind the general manager, Steve Cohen, upped the ante by publicly acknowledging that his checkbook is open to make whatever moves necessary to build a contender.

Just as the pen is mightier than the sword, actions speak louder than words. What Eppler does with this alleged free reign will say a lot about how his first offseason in the general manager’s chair goes.

Mets General Manager Billy Eppler gets to play the game we all wish we could

Imagine getting hired as the general manager of a Major League Baseball team and being told by the owner to build a winner. You haven’t adjusted the settings of the game either to an insurmountable difficulty level. The budget settings are off. It’s time to get running.

Eppler is about to live the closest thing to a video game. He got a taste of it during his time with the Los Angeles Angels where he was able to execute a number of notable big moves. As I’m sure you already know, the results weren’t so promising despite the high payroll.

I’ve already agreed that I’m going to give Eppler a chance to succeed or fail in New York. What he did with the Angels doesn’t really matter. For all we know, the Mets hired a wiser and more experienced man for the job. Under the guidance of Sandy Alderson—for better or worse—we should see a slightly different approach from Eppler.

After all, if Steve Cohen didn’t spend like a drunken sailor last winter, what’s to say he will this time around?

I’m ready to be underwhelmed by what the Mets do this winter. Typically, it’s a team that just exited a major rebuild that has one of those epic offseasons. The Mets haven’t gone through that stage for several years. Their payroll is already high. I don’t expect them to completely overhaul the roster in one year.

Even so, I don’t blame Mets fans for getting excited. Approval from the owner puts the onus on Eppler to get the job done. It’s his team to build. His moves to make. And his job on the line.

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