DEA agents ‘questioned six of Tyler Skaggs’s former teammates following the pitcher’s opioid death’

DEA agents ‘questioned at least six of Tyler Skaggs’s former teammates following the pitcher’s opioid death to gauge the prevalence of drug use among Los Angeles Angels players’

  • Federal agents have questioned at least six current and former Angels players as part of an ongoing investigation into the opioid death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs
  • Drug Enforcement Administration agents reportedly interviewed the players in September to gauge the prevalence of opiate abuse within the team
  • DEA agents were specifically curious about drug use on team flights
  • The Los Angeles Times identified four of the players questioned by DEA agents: Andrew Heaney, Trevor Cahill, Noe Ramirez and ex-Angels pitcher Matt Harvey 
  • The players who were interviewed were not targeted for any specific reason and are not suspected of using illegal drugs, a source told the Los Angeles Times
  • Angeles communications director Eric Kay has since confessed to giving the opioids to Skaggs, adding that the team was aware of the pitcher’s drug use 
  • The team denied the accusation made by Kay, who is currently on leave to address his addiction to opioids. Kay claims he and Skaggs used drugs together 

Tyler Skaggs, 27, was found dead in a hotel room in Southlake, Texas, on July 1 when the Angels were in town to meet the Texas Rangers. His autopsy report said Skaggs had oxycodone, fentanyl and alcohol in his system and listed the cause of death as choking on his own vomit

Federal agents have questioned at least six current and former Los Angeles Angels players as part of an ongoing investigation into the opioid death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Drug Enforcement Administration agents interviewed the players in September to gauge the prevalence of opiate abuse within the team, particularly on team flights, and to learn how Skaggs obtained the drugs that led to his death on July 1, when he choked on his own vomit in a Dallas-area hotel. 

An autopsy revealed fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol in the 27-year-old Skaggs’s system.

The Los Angeles Times identified four of the players questioned by DEA agents: Andrew Heaney, Trevor Cahill, Noe Ramirez and Matt Harvey, the latter of whom was released by the Angels on July 21.

The players who were interviewed were not targeted for any specific reason and are not suspected of using illegal drugs, a source told the Times. 

One Angeles employee, the team’s communications director Eric Kay has since confessed to giving the opioids to Skaggs, adding that the team was aware of the pitcher’s drug use.

The team has denied the accusation.

Federal agents have questioned at least six current and former Los Angeles Angels players as part of an ongoing investigation into the opioid death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The players who were interviewed were not targeted for any specific reason and are not suspected of using illegal drugs, a source told the Los Angeles Times

Federal agents have questioned at least six current and former Los Angeles Angels players as part of an ongoing investigation into the opioid death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The players who were interviewed were not targeted for any specific reason and are not suspected of using illegal drugs, a source told the Los Angeles Times

Andrew Heaney was one of several Angels players interviewed by DEA agents in September, following the July 1 opioid death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs

Matt Harvey was also interviewed, but has since been released by the Angels

The Los Angeles Times identified four of the players questioned by DEA agents: Andrew Heaney (left), Trevor Cahill, Noe Ramirez and Matt Harvey (right), the latter of whom was released by the Angels on July 21

Los Angeles Angels' Noe Ramirez was one of several players interviewed after Skaggs' death. Sources told the L.A. Times that he is not suspected of opioid use himself

Los Angeles Angels’ Noe Ramirez was one of several players interviewed after Skaggs’ death. Sources told the L.A. Times that he is not suspected of opioid use himself 

Kay is currently on paid leave as he deals with his own opioid addiction, but he did release a statement to ESPN through his attorneys.

‘I felt and continue to feel that it is time for everyone to stand up and take responsibility for their respective roles in this,’ the statement read. ‘Nothing anyone does will ever provide closure for the Skaggs family. I can’t, the Angels can’t, and the courts can’t, regardless of what happens there. But at least I can help them ‘know’ instead of “wonder.” My hope is that there is some peace in that for them.’

ESPN’s ‘Outside the Lines’ reported Saturday that Kay also interviewed with DEA agents in both Dallas and Los Angeles field offices in September. Michael Molfetta, Kay’s attorney, confirmed details of what Kay told the DEA, which include:

Eric Kay, who is the Angels' director of communications, also told Drug Enforcement Administration agents that several other employees knew of Skaggs' problems with opioids prior to his death on July

Eric Kay, who is the Angels’ director of communications, also told Drug Enforcement Administration agents that several other employees knew of Skaggs’ problems with opioids prior to his death on July

  • Kay provided oxycodone to Tyler Skaggs, used the drug with the late pitcher for years, and the team knew about Skaggs’ drug abuse.
  • Kay gave Skaggs three oxycodone tablets before the Angels traveled to Texas and that Skaggs sought more on the road, but Kay couldn’t provide them.
  • Five other Angels players used opiates while with the team, though the identities of the players named by Kay have not been made public.

‘I made the decision to cooperate with law enforcement because I felt that it was the right thing to do,’ Kay added in his statement to ESPN. ‘That is all I can do from this point on, if it comes with public shame and derision, I accept that.’

On Saturday afternoon, the Angels released a statement in response to ESPN’s initial report.

‘We have never heard that any employee was providing illegal narcotics to any player, or that any player was seeking illegal narcotics,’ Angels president John Carpino said. ‘The Angels maintain a strict, zero tolerance policy regarding the illicit use of drugs for both players and staff. Every one of our players must also abide by the MLB Joint Drug Agreement. We continue to mourn the loss of Tyler and fully cooperate with the authorities as they continue their investigation.’ 

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