Jared Porter has admitted to sending an inappropriate text message to a female reporter during his tenure as an executive with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. This incident ultimately resulted in his dismissal from the New York Mets, where he served as general manager for only 38 days in 2021. His first public remarks regarding his termination were made during a recent episode of the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast.
Porter joined the Mets on December 13, 2020, after being hired from the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he was let go on January 19, 2021. This firing took place shortly after an ESPN report emerged, revealing that he had sent explicit, unsolicited messages and images to a reporter. Porter expressed regret, acknowledging, “It was an inappropriate relationship for a lot of reasons… I want to be very accountable about that.” He recounted feeling overwhelmed with fear and shame upon the article’s release and reached out for support from his wife, family, and colleagues at the Mets.
Reflecting on his hiring, which occurred during the pandemic, Porter mentioned that he had never met Mets owner Steve Cohen or visited the team’s office at Citi Field. He voiced understanding for the decisions made by Cohen and team president Sandy Alderson regarding his firing. “I was really enjoying my time at the Mets… They made the best decision for the Mets when the article came out, and I knew they would. I hold zero ill will toward them whatsoever,” Porter stated. “It’s unfortunate that I put myself and them in that situation.”
After his firing, Porter received guidance from Ken Kendrick, the managing general partner of the Diamondbacks, which led him to seek help from the team’s employee assistance program. This support directed him to The Meadows, a facility in Arizona specializing in the treatment of addiction and emotional trauma. He spent approximately a week there, reflecting on the drastic shift from negotiating significant trades to being in an inpatient mental health facility. “I wasn’t allowed to have shoelaces in my shoes until I was deemed not to be a suicide threat,” he noted, emphasizing the seriousness of his situation.
Following his time in the inpatient program, Porter underwent outpatient treatment at The Meadows for five days a week over the course of about eight or nine weeks. He discussed the emotional barriers he faced and acknowledged a lack of boundaries in his personal and professional life. Now 45 years old, Porter was suspended by Major League Baseball through the 2022 season. He has since become involved with a new initiative called Blend, aimed at providing mental health resources for youth, college, and professional athletes.
