Angels Sued Over Pitcher’s Overdose Death
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels may be held responsible for the overdose death of their pitcher, Tyler Skaggs, according to his family’s attorney. They argue that the team neglected its own drug policies, letting an employee who was engaged in drug trafficking continue to interact with players.
An attorney representing the Angels countered that the organization was unaware of Skaggs’ drug use and would have intervened had they known. This dispute arose during the opening statements in a civil trial regarding a wrongful death lawsuit initiated by Skaggs’ wife and parents. They claim the team should bear responsibility for Skaggs’ death, which occurred during a 2019 team trip to Texas, linked to pills supplied by public relations director Eric Kaye.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Sean Hawley asserted that Angels management recognized Kaye’s opioid addiction and his tendency to be high at work while supplying drugs to multiple players, Skaggs included. Hawley pointed out that the team did not enforce its own drug policies regarding Kaye, who had just completed rehab—yet they strictly applied these rules to lower-level employees.
“They ignored the situation repeatedly, and that led to Tyler Skaggs’ death,” Hawley told the jurors.
On the other side, Angels attorney Todd Theodora mentioned that an autopsy revealed Skaggs had consumed alcohol and drugs before his death. He claimed the Angels would have taken action had they been aware of Skaggs’ situation. Theodora also emphasized that Skaggs made choices affecting him during his personal time, suggesting that the organization couldn’t control those actions.
“That night, he made a reckless choice to mix alcohol and drugs for a high,” Theodora explained. “There’s evidence that the Angels had no idea Tyler had a drug issue or that Eric Kaye was providing drugs. That’s the crux of the matter.”
In attendance were Skaggs’ wife and mother, along with Angels owner Arte Moreno, team president John Carpino, and various legal representatives.
This civil case unfolds more than six years after Skaggs was found dead in a hotel room near Dallas, where the Angels were about to play against the Texas Rangers. The coroner reported asphyxiation due to vomit and indicated that a toxic blend of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone was present in his system.
Kaye, an ex-Angels employee, was convicted in 2022 for supplying Skaggs with fentanyl-laced pills, receiving a 22-year prison sentence. His trial included testimonies from several MLB players who reported receiving oxycodone from Kaye between 2017 and 2019.
Hawley informed the jury that players often purchased drugs from Kaye throughout the team’s facilities. He pointed to evidence that Kaye had resumed work without restrictions following rehab, raising concerns about the team’s awareness of the situation.
Hawley highlighted the extent of Kaye’s drug distribution, declaring it was widespread and dangerously uncontrolled.
The lawsuit seeks $118 million in damages for lost income, along with compensation for the family’s grief and punitive damages aimed at the organization.
Post-Skaggs’ death, MLB implemented opioid testing and established a system for referring players who test positive to a treatment committee. Skaggs had been a part of the Angels’ rotation since 2016, though injuries had often hindered his performance. He was previously with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The trial is set to run for several weeks and is anticipated to include testimonies from notable players like Mike Trout and former pitcher Wade Miley, now with the Cincinnati Reds.
