David Stearns on the field in Milwaukee before a game in 2022.
Syndication: USA TODAY
NEW YORK — The future is bright for the New York Mets.
At least according to David Stearns.
Stearns became the franchise’s first president of baseball operations in an introductory news conference Monday afternoon.
“When Steve and I first had a chance to meet in mid-August, that’s the first time where I really thought ‘Wow, this could be a fit and this could work.’ So really, from that point forward it was at the forefront of my mind.”
“It’s cool for me that our kids get to grow up Mets fans now,” Stearns said from Citi Field. “…I’m thrilled to be here. This is my home. It’s nice to be back.”
Stearns, who interned with the Mets in the 2000s, spent eight years with the Brewers, including leading their baseball operations department from 2016-22.
“I’ve never seen such universal congratulations in saying: ‘You’ve got to hire this guy,’” team owner Steve Cohen said.
Billy Eppler will stay on as general manager, and manager Buck Showalter has been fired as Stearns’ first act.
Stearns said he was not allowed to talk with Showalter before officially becoming a member of the organization. He reached out to Showalter on Monday and hopes to talk with him.
“It’s universal that people who worked under David loved working for him,” Cohen said. “He really was able to establish followership wherever he was. People described him as smart, thoughtful, open to new ideas, inclusive, so it sort of aligns with my thinking and how I like to run an organization, so it seemed like a pretty good fit.”
The Mets asked permission to speak with Stearns following the 2021 season, but the Brewers denied the request. Then, in October 2022, Stearns officially stepped down from his role as GM and president of baseball operations.
