Former New York Mets pitching coach Phil Regan is filing a lawsuit against the club, TMZ reports.
According to TMZ, Regan alleged that then-Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told him that he would not be brought back after the 2019 Major League season, because he was too old.
Per TMZ, Regan said in the lawsuit that Van Wagenen told him, "If we don't find the young pitching coach we are looking for, we will hire you back."
Regan was eventually replaced by 33-year-old, former MLB pitcher Jeremy Hefner.
Regan had been named the Mets' interim pitching coach in June 2019, after Dave Elland was relieved of his duties. Regan had previously served as the Mets minor league assistant pitching coordinator from 2016 to 2019. He had last worked as a Major League pitching coach in 1999 with the Cleveland Indians. Prior to working with the Indians, he was the Chicago Cubs pitching coach in 1997 and 1998.
Regan managed the Baltimore Orioles to a 71-73 in a lockout-shortened 1995 season. He also coached for the Seattle Mariners from 1984 to 1986.
Prior to entering coaching, Regan was an All-Star Major League pitcher that enjoyed a 13-year career, pitching for the Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Regan won 96 games and posted a career 3.84 ERA. As a member of the Dodgers, Regan was named a National League All-Star in 1966. He made his big league debut in 1960 for the Tigers, and retired after his final season, pitching for the White Sox in 1972. Regan is now 85.
Brodie Van Wagenen, a sports agent, is no longer employed by the Mets. He had no previous front office experience before taking over the Mets in October 2018. He was let go by the organization in November 2020, hours after Steve Cohen purchased the Mets.
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