Key Takeaways
- • Mets owner Steve Cohen hired law firm WilmerHale in March 2021 to conduct a comprehensive review of the organization's "workplace culture," with specific focus on sexual harassment, misconduct, and discrimination issues across "policies, procedures and practices."
- • The investigation was triggered by multiple documented allegations involving former GM Jared Porter (fired after sending explicit photographs to a media member) and former manager Mickey Callaway (suspended pending MLB investigation for alleged sexual harassment and solicitation of lewd photos across his tenure with multiple teams including the Mets).
- • Most documented harassment allegations predated Cohen's acquisition of majority ownership in fall 2020, originating during the previous Wilpon ownership regime (2002–2020), though at least some Callaway incidents occurred during his time managing the Mets.
- • Cohen's direct involvement signals heightened institutional scrutiny of workplace conduct across Major League Baseball as the league confronts systemic issues related to gender inequity, sexual harassment, and treatment of women in professional sports organizations.
- • The audit prompted organizational restructuring, including replacement of the Mets' legal and human resources department heads as remedial measures following the review's findings.
Summary
Mets owner Steve Cohen announced on March 19, 2021, that he had engaged WilmerHale, a prominent global law firm, to conduct an independent review of the franchise's workplace culture and organizational practices. In an organization-wide email obtained by The Athletic, Cohen emphasized the investigation would focus specifically on "sexual harassment, misconduct and discrimination issues" and evaluate existing "policies, procedures and practices" across the organization. Cohen stated unequivocally: "There is no place in our organization for such conduct."
The investigation was initiated in response to documented allegations involving multiple former team members. Former General Manager Jared Porter was terminated after ESPN reported he had sent explicit photographs to a media member during his prior employment with the Chicago Cubs. Former manager Mickey Callaway faced separate allegations of sending and soliciting lewd photographs from multiple sports media members and acting inappropriately toward numerous women throughout his managerial career with the Indians, Mets, and Angels. Callaway was subsequently suspended as a pitching coach with the Angels pending an MLB investigation. The Mets also quietly separated from former minor league coordinator Ryan Ellis in January 2021, following human resources complaints from three women in 2018 regarding inappropriate conduct.
Significantly, most documented harassment incidents traced to the previous ownership regime led by Fred and Jeff Wilpon, which controlled the franchise from 2002 to 2020. However, records indicated that at least certain allegations involving Callaway occurred during his managerial tenure in New York. Cohen's decision to commission an external legal review within months of acquiring majority ownership underscores both the severity of institutional failures and a broader industry reckoning across Major League Baseball regarding workplace conduct, gender equity, and the treatment of women in professional sports organizations. The audit subsequently prompted structural changes, including the replacement of senior leadership in the Mets' legal and human resources departments.
The investigation was initiated in response to documented allegations involving multiple former team members. Former General Manager Jared Porter was terminated after ESPN reported he had sent explicit photographs to a media member during his prior employment with the Chicago Cubs. Former manager Mickey Callaway faced separate allegations of sending and soliciting lewd photographs from multiple sports media members and acting inappropriately toward numerous women throughout his managerial career with the Indians, Mets, and Angels. Callaway was subsequently suspended as a pitching coach with the Angels pending an MLB investigation. The Mets also quietly separated from former minor league coordinator Ryan Ellis in January 2021, following human resources complaints from three women in 2018 regarding inappropriate conduct.
Significantly, most documented harassment incidents traced to the previous ownership regime led by Fred and Jeff Wilpon, which controlled the franchise from 2002 to 2020. However, records indicated that at least certain allegations involving Callaway occurred during his managerial tenure in New York. Cohen's decision to commission an external legal review within months of acquiring majority ownership underscores both the severity of institutional failures and a broader industry reckoning across Major League Baseball regarding workplace conduct, gender equity, and the treatment of women in professional sports organizations. The audit subsequently prompted structural changes, including the replacement of senior leadership in the Mets' legal and human resources departments.
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