Angels suspend Callaway, working with MLB to conduct investigation

The Los Angeles Angels suspended Mickey Callaway and are working with Major League Baseball to investigate reports that the pitching coach engaged in inappropriate behavior with five women in sports media, the team announced Tuesday.

Callaway has denied any wrongdoing, a source told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. By doing that, the Angels are required under California law to complete an investigation into the allegations before terminating his employment, a source told Molly Knight of The Athletic.

MLB and the Angels are hoping to have their investigation completed "in relatively short order," Gonzalez reports.

The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli and Katie Strang published the initial report Monday detailing accounts from five women who received lewd messages dating back to Callaway's tenure as the New York Mets manager and Cleveland Indians pitching coach.

The Angels hired Callaway as their pitching coach prior to the 2020 campaign after losing his job as Mets manager following the 2019 season.

Early Tuesday morning, Mets owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations Sandy Alderson issued statements regarding Callaway's conduct.

"The conduct reported in The Athletic story today is completely unacceptable and would never be tolerated under my ownership," said Cohen, who took over the team this offseason and had no direct ties to Callaway's hiring or firing as skipper.

Cohen hired Jared Porter as the club's general manager shortly after purchasing the Mets. One month later, the organization fired Porter after the GM acknowledged reports that he sent explicit messages to a media member.

"I was appalled by the actions reported today of former manager Mickey Callaway," said Alderson, who was with the team when Callaway was hired. "I was unaware of the conduct described in the story at the time of Mickey's hire or at any time during my tenure as general manager."

The Indians, who employed Callaway from 2013-17, also issued a statement shortly after the report surfaced.

"We were made aware for the first time tonight of the allegations in The Athletic regarding Mickey Callaway's behavior towards women," the statement said, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. "We are currently reviewing the matter internally and in consultation with Major League Baseball to determine appropriate next steps.

"Our organization unequivocally does not condone this type of behavior," the statement continued. "We seek to create an inclusive work environment where everyone, regardless of gender, can feel safe and comfortable to do their jobs."