Angels President Testifies in Tyler Skaggs Wrongful Death Trial

Los Angeles Angels president John Carpino testified in the ongoing Tyler Skaggs wrongful death trial, stating that Skaggs was a 'drug addict and a drug dealer.' This assertion came as part of the final day of testimony, where Carpino, along with senior vice president of finance/administration Molly Jolly, maintained that they had no knowledge of Skaggs' or Eric Kay's drug use prior to the pitcher's death in 2019.

Kay, a former communications employee for the Angels, was convicted in 2022 for providing Skaggs with a fentanyl-laced pill that led to his fatal overdose. Skaggs' family is seeking $118 million in damages, claiming the Angels were negligent in not monitoring Kay, who allegedly distributed drugs to players, including Skaggs.

During the trial, witnesses testified about Kay's erratic behavior and incidents that indicated his struggles with addiction. Carpino expressed regret, stating he wished he had known about the drug use earlier, emphasizing that had he been aware, he would have reported it to Major League Baseball.

The defense argued that any drug-related activities occurred outside of work and highlighted that Skaggs made reckless choices that contributed to his death. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin following Carpino's testimony, with jurors potentially deliberating as early as Monday.