The Mets are hiring former Los Angeles Angels and Yankees executive Billy Eppler as general manager.

SNY's Andy Martino reported on Monday that the Mets were deep in talks to hire Eppler, who has now signed a four-year contract with the club.

Eppler, 46, most recently served as GM of the Angels from 2015 to 2020.

“Billy has the experience, character, and respect of the baseball community that will allow him to attract the players and front office talent to lead the Mets forward,” said team owner Steve Cohen. “He is a leader who has worked in two of baseball’s biggest markets and his talents and personality will move us closer to my goal of sustained success.”

“Over the past two decades, Billy has been a scout and an assistant GM. He’s also more than familiar with the New York Market. This uniquely qualifies him to lead our efforts going forward,” said team president Sandy Alderson. “He’s smart, he hustles and has a keen eye for identifying talent. He’s going to make us better. I am really pleased that we have someone of his caliber leading the Mets.”

The Angels fired Eppler after the 2020 season, and he had recently taken a job helping to run the baseball division at WME (William Morris Endeavor Entertainment).

Prior to joining the Angels, Eppler was a rising star in the Yankees' front office, working under Brian Cashman.

"I’m so thankful to Steve and Sandy for what I consider an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Eppler. “We have a lot of work to do and will systematically begin to work towards our goal of building a perennial winner. I also have to thank WME for the amazing opportunity to join their baseball group, which is building something very special.”

During Eppler's time in Los Angeles, the Angels signed Mike Trout to a 12-year extension, signed two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, traded for Andrelton Simmons, and signed Anthony Rendon.

But despite the many big-name additions the Angels made during Eppler's tenure, they finished below .500 and out of the playoffs during every season Eppler was at the helm, with their highest win total being 80 (in both 2017 and 2018).

While Eppler took the fall after the 2020 season for the Angels' struggles, there is a belief that owner Arte Moreno was to blame for much of what went wrong.

In addition to Eppler, the Mets had been linked to former Washington Nationals vice president and assistant GM Adam Cromie during their front office search.

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