After months (maybe even years) of rumors, the Mets finally hired NYC native David Stearns to be their next president of baseball operations on Tuesday. Stearns, who led the Milwaukee Brewers to four straight playoff appearances from 2018-21, will be tasked with bringing the Mets back to contention after a frustrating season.
With a new POBO finally in place, we asked our MMO writers for their reaction to the news of Stearns coming to Queens.
Mike De Sisti / USA TODAY NETWORK
PATRICK GLYNN
This is pretty monumental. Steve Cohen has sought this kind of role (and probably this person) since he bought the team. It’s been nearly a decade since it’s felt like the Mets have had a top-down organizational philosophy, and Stearns can bring a modern one to Queens. It doesn’t hurt that Stearns grew up a Mets fan. And don’t look at his time with the Brewers as a “failure” because he never reached the World Series. He helped build something stable, informed, and scalable with less resources than he’ll have with the Mets. Think of his hire as a college coach who overachieved at a tier-two school, and now he’s running a program with an (seemingly) unlimited booster check book. This is exciting.
JOHNLUKE CHAPARRO
For three years, Cohen and company were looking for someone to help create stability and develop a model similar to how the LA Dodgers operate currently and he has found that in Stearns. The man took a beleaguered Brewers franchise and turned them into consistent contenders with a plethora of talent ready to fill in when needed. He’s considered one of the best up-and-coming executives in the sport and it’s only fitting that he’ll head the team that he grew up watching. A potential franchise-altering move and all signs point upwards. As a longtime fan, I’m incredibly excited to see him at work, along with Cohen’s vision develop further!
MATT MANCUSO
If the billionaires are buying the same stock, shouldn’t you? Given Steve Cohen’s experience in the financial world, I feel like this is an applicable analogy to the Mets reportedly hiring the highly-sought David Stearns Tuesday afternoon. Throughout the last several seasons, Stearns quickly made a name for himself, helping mold successful Houston, Cleveland, and Milwaukee squads. It’s been reported that Stearns was limited by his owners’ payroll concerns, a worry that shouldn’t be an issue given Cohen’s deep pockets. As has been the norm in Queens in last few seasons, this is considered as a top-tier “good process” move by the Mets’ front-office. Cohen has been looking for his right-handed man since purchasing the team, and Stearns seems to fit the bill.
RICH SPARAGO
My reaction to the David Stearns hire is that I hope he is, and I believe he is, up to the task ahead of him. The fanbase is growing more and more edgy about the wait between championships, and the current version of the Mets is in need of a makeover. Stearns and company have to find 60% of a starting rotation, almost an entirely new bullpen, and a few new position players. Stearns has a popular slugger on an expiring contract, and he has to face that challenge. Bottom line: there is a lot of work to do. The good news is that the owner has deep pockets, and the mid-level of the farm system finally has some exciting talent. Stearns will have financial resources, but this team is not one player away. They’re probably not five players away. Mets fans are intelligent, but they’re not patient, at least not now. Good luck to David Stearns. He is a good hire. The job will not be easy. If he succeeds, he will be a hero for the team he grew up cheering on. I hope he gets started on October 2. He may not have many days off in his new role.
CHRISTIAN DE BLOCK
The New York Mets have added some pretty important pieces to the organization in the Steve Cohen era, but this may be the best one yet. David Stearns has established himself as one of the best in the industry, and with the Mets looking for a president of baseball operations, this was simply a no-brainer. Stearns played a key role in the Milwaukee Brewers being a consistent playoff contender over the last handful of years, and that was with far less resources than we he will have in New York. If he can replicate that success with the kind of investment Cohen is willing to give, this could go a long way in the Mets quest to end their World Series drought.
JORGE ECKARDT
This is a great hire for the Mets. Shocker, I know. Who would have thought hiring one of the most well respected front office people in baseball would be a good move? What Stearns has been able to accomplish in Milwaukee, especially when it comes to their pitching and pitching lab, is extremely impressive. Now, significantly increase his resources? That’s an exciting thought. The hometown kid is going to be thrown into the fire immediately with the Mets, a team that had championship aspirations come crashing down in spectacular fashion in 2023. How will he fix a rotation that only has two-of-five (or maybe two-of-six?) spots locked in? Will he trade Pete Alonso? How will he overhaul the Mets minor league development? Are any of the Mets major league coaches safe? All those and so many more questions that will have to be answered this winter, it will really be fascinating to see what plays out.
