The long-rumored union between the Mets and David Stearns is becoming a reality, with New York agreeing to terms with Stearns to become the president of baseball operations, reports SNY’s Andy Martino.
Current GM Billy Eppler will remain with the Mets and work under Stearns, who will begin his new role after the regular season ends.
Stearns, a 38-year-old Manhattan native, had been working in an advisory role for the Milwaukee Brewers after stepping down from their top baseball job last October.
Stearns became the Brewers’ GM in September of 2015 and helped guide them to four trips to the postseason during his time in the front office. He was promoted to president of baseball operations in January of 2019.
Owner Steve Cohen said last year that he was looking to hire a president of baseball operations, and discussed the search in June — along with what it would mean for Eppler.
“I’ve been clear from day one that I’m still looking for a president of baseball ops. Billy knows, I’ve had that conversation with him — he’s supportive,” Cohen said at the time. “This is a really complex job and it’s a lot on one person. We have people under Billy, but from a leadership standpoint, that’s still out there. At some point we will fill that position. Billy will be a part of that, at that point I’ve enhanced the management team and that’s the goal.
“The biggest mistake you can make is to hire someone and set the organization back five years, 10 years. I’ve been waiting and at some point we’ll hire someone.”
With Stearns on board, he will be the top baseball decision-maker during an offseason where the Mets will be facing lots of big questions.
One huge question involves Pete Alonso, who is expected to be on the team to start 2024 but whose future is uncertain with the slugger set to hit free agency after the season.
The Mets, who entered 2023 with World Series expectations but wound up waving the white flag on the season with a trade deadline sell-off, are expected to still be active in free agency — especially when it comes to filling out a starting rotation that is set to return only Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana as core pieces.
