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Mets apologize to reporter for postgame altercation with Callaway, Vargas

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Warning: Story contains coarse language

The New York Mets apologized for Sunday's clubhouse altercation between a beat reporter covering the team and manager Mickey Callaway and pitcher Jason Vargas.

"The Mets sincerely regret the incident that took place with one of our beat writers following today's game in the clubhouse," the team wrote in a statement obtained by The Athletic's Tim Britton. "We do not condone this type of behavior from any employee. The organization has reached out and apologized to this reporter and will have further discussions internally with all involved parties."

Following the Mets' loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, an angry Callaway sounded off on a reporter identified as Newsday's Tim Healey. After Healey reportedly said, "See you tomorrow, Mickey," Callaway asked staff to "get this motherfucker out" of the clubhouse.

When Healey did not leave, Vargas threatened him, saying, "I'll knock you the fuck out, bro." The pitcher then had to be physically restrained by teammates.

Healey explained his side of the story to Newsday's David Lennon and said Mets ownership personally contacted him in addition to the public statement of apology.

"Jeff Wilpon called me (Sunday) evening to apologize on behalf of the organization," Healey said. "He stressed the fact that I should feel comfortable being able to do my job at the ballpark and that moving forward, there's no reason for me to feel uncomfortable. I appreciated that sentiment from him, absolutely."

General manager Brodie Van Wagenen is expected to meet the team in Philadelphia on Monday, at which point he'll address the situation further.

The Mets' chaotic season has been filled with losing on the field and controversy off of it, with Callaway's job security coming under increased scrutiny as the year has progressed. Van Wagenen stated in May that Callaway's job was safe "for the foreseeable future," but the Mets have since fired their pitching coach and bullpen coach.

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