VIERA, Fla. — Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen on Thursday reiterated his contrition for saying a racial slur in the clubhouse, adding that the episode is over, MLB.com reports.
“I’ve already made the apologies to all the appropriate people,” Warthen said of the slur, which appeared Wednesday on The Wall Street Journal’s website. “I don’t think there are any ill feelings by any of the people in this room. I made a mistake, lived up to it and it won’t happen again.”
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, who along with Warthen issued an apology statement on Wednesday evening, declined to comment when asked if Warthen would be disciplined.
Through his interpreter, Jeff Cutler, Matsuzaka said he did not expect the episode to change his working relationship with Warthen.
“Everyone makes mistakes and Dan’s already commented on it,” Matsuzaka said. “I don’t want to dig deeper into it or try to add to what it is.”
Cutler, to whom the slur was reportedly directed, declined comment when asked if he was offended.
“Dan’s already commented on it and Sandy’s also talked about it,” Cutler said. “I don’t really have anything else to add.”
The incident came to light on Monday when Wall Street Journal reporter Stu Woo was in the Mets locker room talking to Cutler, who is Japanese American. Warthen approached Cutler and apologized for calling him a “Chinaman” the day before.
According to Woo, after Cutler said, “It’s OK,” Warthen continued, “I didn’t mean to insinuate –- I know you’re not Chinese. I thought it was a pretty good joke, though.”
Discussing the matter with Cutler on Tuesday, Cutler said he was not offended but did not reveal what the joke was.
Later that day, Woo met with Jay Horwitz, the Mets’ vice president of media relations, who said that Warthen would have no comment. But on Wednesday, the Mets issued statements from Warthen and Alderson.