Angels Exec Testifies MLB Was Aware of Eric Kay’s Addiction Years Before Skaggs’ Death

Santa Ana, Calif. — A top human resources executive for the Los Angeles Angels testified today that the team was working with Major League Baseball to address Eric Kay’s drug addiction years before the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, a previously unreported development in the ongoing wrongful death civil trial.

Angels VP Deborah Johnston stated that her understanding was Kay, then the team’s director of communications, “was drug tested under the MLB policy, not the Angels policy.” This marks the first time a witness in the trial has claimed MLB was notified about Kay’s substance abuse issues. Johnston explained that the team had the option to terminate Kay but instead chose to collaborate with the league. “When there is an illegal drug, or we go through an investigation and we find somebody has used illegal substances on property, one of the options is to terminate,” she testified. “But another option is to work with MLB, as we did in this case.”

MLB disputed Johnston’s claims in a statement to The Athletic, asserting, “Neither MLB or The Drug Oversight Committee…was notified of or involved in the treatment of Eric Kay.” Kay is currently serving a 22-year federal prison sentence for providing the fentanyl-laced pill that led to Skaggs’ death on July 1, 2019. The testimony centers on whether the Angels fulfilled their obligations to ensure a safe environment for players, as the Skaggs family alleges negligence in handling Kay’s addiction. Johnston also testified she had communications between 2016-2019 with MLB’s executive VP for investigations, Moira Weinberg, regarding the Drug Policy Oversight Committee.

During questioning, Johnston acknowledged inconsistencies in her previous statements, stating she had “learned additional information” from reviewing documents. She also described a disparity in how the Angels handled Kay’s violations compared to other employees, noting that a custodian and two housekeepers were fired for lesser infractions. The trial is expected to continue with further examination of team policies and communication records.