David

Stearns

The Mets are in the midst of a disappointing season and have already fired manager Carlos Mendoza, with many also calling for Stearns to step down as the team is just 208-202 in his tenure and headed toward a second straight postseason miss. However, Steve Cohen made it clear that it would not happen: “It’s a mixed record. I’m not gonna say it’s going great, but it’s too early to really make evaluations...We’ll figure out what changes need to be made. But the change that’s not going to be made is moving David out at this point. I’m just not going to do it.”

We’ll see if they stick to it, but the Mets are saying Andy Green will be their interim manager for the rest of the season and only then will they begin their managerial search to replace Mendoza. Green is not expected to be in that mix, as he’s planning to return to his front office job (Senior VP of baseball development). Pujols served as the manager of Dominican team in the WBC this spring and is slated to manage Estrellas in the Dominican Winter League. He interviewed with the Angels after last season before reportedly taking himself out of consideration.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns made it official during his end of season press conference that Mendoza will return after a disappointing 83-79 campaign where New York missed the postseason entirely. Mendoza has gone 172-152 (.531) in two seasons at the helm and figures to be on the hot seat next season considering Mets owner Steve Cohen’s desire to win and the club’s astronomical payroll.

Green, who managed the Padres from 2016-2019, decided to leave for New York after the Cubs fired manager David Ross earlier this month to hire former Brewers manager Craig Counsell. The 46-year-old, who served as Chicago’s bench coach for the last three seasons, will work in player development for the Mets. He reportedly interviewed for the Mets’ managerial vacancy before the club settled on Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza for the position.

Given that Kantrovitz is currently the Cubs vice president of scouting, his role with the Mets would likely be overseeing their amateur scouting and player development departments. With Craig Breslow leaving to join the Red Sox, the Cubs could be on the verge of losing two high-ranking front office officials at the outset of the offseason.

This was the first day the Mets could officially bring on Stearns after his contract with the Brewers ended. The 38-year-old Manhattan native spent seven seasons running the show in Milwaukee before stepping down and assuming an advisory role this year. Reports indicated that he’s getting a five-year, $50 million deal.

Stearns officially stepped down last October from his position as Brewers president of baseball operations after leading Milwaukee’s front office from 2015 to 2022. He stayed on this season as an advisor to baseball operations for the remainder of his contract, and will apparently take over as the head decision-maker for the Mets moving forward. There should be an official announcement from New York at the conclusion of the regular season.

Stearns recently stepped down as president of baseball operations, but he’s under contract for another year and the current plan is for him to serve as an advisor to Brewers owner Mark Attanasio and the baseball operations department. The Mets and Astros have been mentioned as possible landing spots for Stearns in the long-term, but barring a change of heart, the Brewers won’t let him explore opportunities for another year.

Stearns will remain in the organization as an advisor to ownership and the baseball operations department, at least temporarily. He’s been coveted by other clubs for many years, most notably the Mets, and all indications are that this a transitional move which will eventually find him joining a new team. “While I am disappointed that David is stepping down, I am grateful to David and know he has a very bright future,” Brewers owner Mark Attanasio wrote in a statement Thursday morning. Matt Arnold, who had been operating as the Brewers’ general manager under Stearns, will now take over the lead front office role in Milwaukee.

It was previously reported that the Brewers held a vesting option on Stearns for 2023, but now we know the details. If the Brewers don’t win the NL pennant in 2022, he will remain under contract with the team for another season. This is relevant information given the Mets’ interest in the New York native. The Brewers have denied the Mets permission to interview Stearns in each of the last two offseasons. New York has since moved on to Billy Eppler, but that doesn’t necessarily leave them out of the running if and when Stearns is on the open market.