NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets general manager Jared Porter has been fired after sending graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office.
ESPN reported late Monday night that Porter sent dozens of unanswered texts to the woman, including a picture of “an erect, naked penis.”
ESPN reports that Porter acknowledged texting with the woman, but when he was told about messages with selfies and other images, he reportedly said “the more explicit ones” were not of him, but were instead “joke-stock images.”
About nine hours later, new Mets owner Steve Cohen posted on Twitter that Porter had been fired.
“We have terminated Jared Porter this morning,” Cohen wrote. “In my initial press conference I spoke about the importance of integrity and I meant it. There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior.”
In a statement, Mets President Sandy Alderson said, “Jared’s actions, as reflected by events disclosed last night, failed to meet the Met’s standards for professionalism and personal conduct.”
New York hired the 41-year-old Porter last month after he spent the past four seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks as senior vice president and assistant general manager.
