Mets 'cut ties with two top officials' after an internal probe in the wake of sexual harassment claims against ex-manager Mickey Callaway and fired general manager Jared Porter
- In an internal email, Mets owner Steve Cohen revealed plans to dismiss two top officials: General counsel David Cohen and human resources VP Holly Lindvall
- The moves come as a result of an internal review by the law firm WilmerHale into the team's culture following several accusations of sexual harassment
- In January, the Mets fired new general manager Jared Porter a report surfaced claiming he sent lewd texts to female journalists when he worked for the Cubs
- Ex-Mets manager Mickey Callaway was fired as the Angels pitching coach in May over past claims of sexual harassment from his days in New York and Cleveland
- The team also quietly fired hitting coach Ryan Ellis in January three years after three female colleagues reported him for sexual harassment
- Team president Sandy Alderson hired both Callaway and Porter, but Steve Cohen reportedly insisted in his email that Alderson is part of the solution
In the wake of a series of sexual harassment claims and a subsequent internal review, the New York Mets have reportedly plan to let go of two high-ranking officials on Monday: general counsel David Cohen and senior vice president of human resources and diversity Holly Lindvall.
First-year owner Steve Cohen (no relation to David) announced the moves in an internal email, acquired by the New York Post, which explained that Lindvall and Cohen would be let go following a transition period. The moves come as a result of an internal review by the law firm WilmerHale into the team's culture.
Team spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
In the wake of a series of sexual harassment claims and a subsequent internal review, the New York Mets have announced plans to let go of two high-ranking officials on Monday: general counsel David Cohen and senior vice president of human resources and diversity Holly Lindvall. First-year owner Steve Cohen (no relation to David) announced the moves in an internal email, acquired by the New York Post , which explained that Lindvall and Cohen would be let go following a transition period. The moves come as a result of an internal review by the law firm WilmerHale into the team's culture
Mets employees were reportedly skeptical that Holly Lindvall (pictured) took their accusations of sexual harassment seriously because she allegedly prioritized her relationship with the Wilpon Family, the Mets former majority owners who sold the club to Cohen for $2.4 billion in 2020 but retained a minority stake. Lindvall will be leaving the team, according to the internal email sent by first-year team owner Steve Cohen
In January, the Mets dismissed newly hired general manager Jared Porter after ESPN reported that he sent lewd, unsolicited texts to female journalists when he worked for the Chicago Cubs.
Furthermore, former Mets manager Mickey Callaway was fired as the Los Angeles Angels pitching coach in May over past allegations of sexual harassment that included claims he behaved inappropriately with female reporters during his time in New York. The allegations against Callaway were first reported by The Athletic.
The team also quietly fired hitting coach Ryan Ellis in January three years after three female colleagues reported him for sexual harassment. In February the Mets said new information about the accusations led to Ellis's firing, but the team did not elaborate on what was discovered.
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According to The Athletic's report on the claims against Callaway, team employees were skeptical that Lindvall took their accusations of sexual harassment seriously because she allegedly prioritized her relationship with the Wilpon Family, the Mets former majority owners who sold the club to Cohen for $2.4 billion in 2020 but retained a minority stake.
Former Mets manager Mickey Callaway (pictured) sent uninvited messages to the women via email, text or social media and asked one to send nude photos in return, according to the report. He often commented on their appearance in a way that made them uncomfortable and on one occasion 'thrust his crotch near the face of a reporter' while she interviewed him, The Athletic said
In his email, Steve Cohen makes it clear that he sees president Sandy Alderson as part of the solution, according to the Post. Alderson, 73, was involved in both Callaway's hiring in 2017 and Porter's in December of 2020.
Following the firing of Porter, Alderson described the reports of his behavior as a 'wake-up call.'
'With respect to the vetting process, we'll be more intentional about communicating with women who may have had some contact, not necessarily fellow employees, but other third parties that might have come in contact,' Alderson told reporters in February.
'We're probably taking our background checks and so forth to a somewhat higher level to the extent that we can.'
Alderson expressed regret over the vetting process of Callaway.
'When we when we hired Mickey, Mickey was the hot commodity,' he said. 'There were a number of teams that were anxious to talk to him and possibly sign him to a contract. We felt very fortunate at the time to get him based on his reputation in the game.
'Now, that was that short-sighted on our part? Was it too narrow focus? I think the answer is probably yes. And certainly in retrospect, there probably should have been a broader assessment of his qualifications.'
The Mets hired Porter in December only to fire him in January after reports surfaced claiming that he sent female journalists lewd, unsolicited text messages when he worked for the Cubs
In his reported email, Cohen vowed to implement several changes to empower employees and make them feel safer. Namely, employees will be given the chance to evaluate superiors going forward, and Cohen also promised complaints will be handled more expediently and efficiently.
'I'm optimistic that, together, we can strengthen our organization and build a more respectful, diverse, and fun place to work,' Cohen wrote.
The team also quietly fired hitting coach Ryan Ellis (pictured) in January three years after three female colleagues reported him for sexual harassment. In February the Mets said new information about the accusations led to Ellis's firing, but the team did not elaborate on what was discovered
In addition to being fired, Callaway, 46, was suspended through at least the 2022 season after several waves of accusations stemming from his time serving as the Cleveland Indians pitching coach and his tenure as Mets manager.
Commissioner Rob Manfred did not release details of what MLB's probe determined, but said in a statement 'I have concluded that Mr. Callaway violated MLB's policies, and that placement on the ineligible list is warranted.'
In a report published on February 1, The Athletic said Callaway 'aggressively pursued' several women who work in sports media and sent three of them inappropriate photos.
Callaway sent uninvited messages to the women via email, text or social media and asked one to send nude photos in return, according to the report. He often commented on their appearance in a way that made them uncomfortable and on one occasion 'thrust his crotch near the face of a reporter' while she interviewed him, The Athletic said.
He was the Cleveland Indians' pitching coach for five years before managing the Mets from 2018-19. After he was fired by New York, he was hired in October 2019 as pitching coach of the Angels, who suspended him on February 2.
The Athletic's first report on Callaway came two weeks after ESPN detailed sexually explicit, uninvited text messages and images sent by Porter to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working in the Cubs' front office. Porter was fired by the Mets the following morning, and MLB said it planned to investigate him.
Team president Sandy Alderson (pictured) hired both Callaway and Porter, but Steve Cohen reportedly insisted in his email that Alderson is part of the solution
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