The Brewers have promoted David Stearns to the position of president of baseball operations, per a club announcement. He has also received a contract extension of unknown length.
The news comes as little surprise after a strong Milwaukee run in 2018, with the club taking the NL Central title and advancing to the NLCS. Stearns, who took over as the club’s GM in the fall of 2015 (on a contract of still-unknown duration), drew interest from other organizations this winter but was obviously viewed as a critical piece in the Brewers’ own long-term plans.
Also receiving a title bump from the organization was Rick Schlesinger, who becomes the president of business operations. He had previously functioned as the chief operating officer for eight years.
While the news is certainly not without its ramifications — a longer, presumably better-compensated tenure for both men, along with new business cards and office placards — it largely represents a confirmation that the Milwaukee club is pleased with its current trajectory. In addition to the successes on the field, the announcement lauds the business-side efforts to continue improving Miller Park and launch a new Arizona facility.
Of course, the organization also had a significant announcement yesterday: Miller Park will have a new name after two more seasons. It’s not yet known exactly what the facility will be called, but American Family Insurance will own the rights for the next 15-year period. That will help boost revenues, with a prospective new television rights deal also on the horizon as a means of potentially enhancing the income stream.
If owner Mark Attanasio has his way, the business and baseball ops departments will continue to boost one another — the former helping to charge fan interest and the latter providing the funds needed to boost payroll. According to Schlesinger, that’s how things have gone to this point. “David and I both understand the importance of our two disciplines working together as one, cohesive unit, and we embrace that approach throughout the organization,” he said.
From a hot stove perspective, it seems that things will largely continue on as before. Presumably, Stearns will continue to function in much the same capacity. Whether or not assistant GM Matt Arnold — who joined the organization shortly after Stearns did — will get his own new title remains to be seen.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
firstbleed
Well deserved. Congrats Slingin’ Stearns!
Ejemp2006
In Sterns, the BrewCrew, does trust!
pinkerton
Congrats to this fella
brewcrew08
Well deserved to say the least. Now go out and get an offensive minded 2B (or Moose) and a SP and call it an off-season.
bronxbombers
Brewers should go get whit merrifield
its_happening
Can’t believe KC wants to hold onto Merrifield.
mkeyankee
Only problem is the Brewers have top 2b prospect (#6 in MLB) Keston Hiura in Triple-A.
jayfaraday
They’re saving 2nd for Keston
Luckybrew
He’ll be there 2nd baseman in the future until he becomes a free agent. They’ll try to sign him to a long term contract about 2 years before free agency.
3locos
Whew.
bobtillman
Few have been able to navigate the low-revenue, on the field success path as Stearns has….one of the top 5 at his job. Ya, he hasn’t won anything yet, but they’re at least on the periphery of contention most years.
And that’s really all you can ask for, given the circumstances.
Cheeseman Forever
Does 2018 NL Central title count as “winning anything”? Otherwise, I agree with all of the comments breathing a sign of relief that Stearns will be around for awhile.
BrewCrew1302
winning in Wrigley in game 163 to shut all the bandwaggon cubs fans up was a victory in itself.
hinegm01
If you haven’t won a World Series, then no you haven’t won anything.
excusemeflo
Every fanbase for every team in every sport has bandwagon fans. Your Brewers are no exception.
gretencorda
stop throwing the term “bandwagon fan” around like you have any clue what you’re talking about. Makes you sound petty and uneducated. Unless that’s what you are…
mlb1225
Not like the Cubs have won too much more than the Brewers then if we’re going by World Series.
cecilcooper1
Well it took the Cubs 108 years to win a world series. I take the under that the Crew will not take nearly as long.
lefty58
The bet is will they still be in Milwaukee when it happens.
canocorn
Second comes right after first!
— Buzz Aldrin
Phattey
They would never leave Milwaukee they sell out almost every home home and just renewed their stadium for the next 15 years
MWeller77
Coming within a game of the World Series is pretty noteworthy, especially for a team like the Brewers that has only won one pennant in its history
dray16
Congrats, well deserved, looking forward to the celebration at American Family Insurance Park.
baseballhobo
Uecker Park
pmollan
Uecker Field at (Enter Sponsor Here) Park
pageian
Nice. Uecker Park, where every seat is in the front row!
canocorn
Pioneer of catching the knuckle ball.
Wait for it to stop rolling, and pick it up.
Long live Mr. Baseball, … Bob Uecker.
BrewCrew1302
Took a rebuild that usually takes 4-5 seasons and hurried the process with smart, under the radar moves. Nothing but respect for Stearns and the way he handles himself. Certainly the best guy to have in office. Loves to win, and does not settle for average, love the attitude and honesty he brings. Melvin constantly made excuses on why the team was not performing over his tenure.
Phattey
Lmao this is awesome finally someone that sees how bad Doug Melvin was. That boy traded basically our whole team to the royals the year before they won the World Series for Idk who
stubby66
A very good call this makes up the silly idea that it will no longer be called Miller Park. Now lock up some of your key young players and just allow Dubon start the season at second base because you can gain that extra year of control by sending him down for awhile after you bring up Huira later in the season. Do that and find a new home for Thames, Anderson, and Albers before spring training .
BrewCrew1302
It is still Miller Park to me and I will always call it that, no matter what they throw up on the stadium. Thames, Anderson, and Davies need to go. All 3 were left off the postseason roster for a reason. Davies was only there cuz of the Gio injury.
Newspeaks
Thats how i feel about The Ballpark in Arlington. Ill even call the new one that. Because i drink whiskey straight.
brewcrewer
Hell yeah brother
johnrealtime
I find it funny how people get atttached to corporate sponsored stadium names. I wonder if the White Sox changed their stadium name 50 years from now you’d hear people say “It’ll always be Guaranteed Rate Field to me”
canocorn
We just call it the G-spot, … because it’s difficult to locate.
jjgreedy
I don’t know why everyone is all up in arms about Miller not continuing the naming rights. When Anheuser Busch bought Miller years ago the writing was on the wall. They are systematically dismantling Miller and moving its assets out of town. Miller will not exist in 15 years.
dray16
Molson/Coors bought them, not AB, Miller will still be around for a long time
jjgreedy
Wrong. The company that owns AB now owns Miller. Google is your friend.
pageian
Technically, I believe AB had to divest itself off Miller due to antitrust laws. They did buy Miller but had to sell off significant parts. The reason for the purchase anyway was due to overseas assets, not Miller itself.
canocorn
Wish it were New Glarus Park.
henrymethbreath
+1 Spotted Cow, friend
Newspeaks
I havent drank miller since they quit brewing Pearl. Waste of an acquisition if you ask me. (On millers part by acquiring Pearl then killing her)
bucketbrew35
There is nothing more annoying in professional sports than stadium name changes. Especially after a prolonged period of time.
Rebuild it
As a Braves fan this is a great move. Hes done great things with their org and has hit on as many small moves as anybody in baseball.
joepanikatthedisco
They should call it Stearns Field
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
I got a good giggle out of “While the news is certainly not without its ramifications — a longer, presumably better-compensated tenure for both men, along with new business cards and office placards…” Compliments on entertaining writing!
cecilcooper1
Congratulations to Sterns! He sure has made a lot of the under the radar and unexpected moves to get them to this point.
Nick Stevens
Stearns has solidified himself the 2nd best GM/VP/Pres. in the NL Central behind Theo Epstein.
brewcrew08
Yeah. Give Stearns an extra 75-100M to spend like Theo has and see how much better the Brewers are.
kripes-brewers
Well, I wouldn’t go that far quite yet. It remains to be seen if his plan can win a World’s Championship. He’s put together a competitive team, but I’m not sure how far they can go by eschewing the idea that you can win it all without seriously talented starting pitchers at the top. I admire the effort to try, given the financial constraints. As a crew fan, it’s nice to see all the talent, and they’re sure fun to watch and listen to!
its_happening
Agreed. Temper the excitement. Brewers are in a good spot though.
cecilcooper1
That not the least bit true. What he has “eschewed” is paying 6 years and $126 million for pitchers. Perhaps he will not overpay? Perhaps he keeps drafting, trading for pitching prospects, and developing pitching. Seems more the way he has handled the staff don’t you think? Perhaps he just wants to develop those seriously talented pitchers instead of creating future payroll problems. I think that is why you will not see him sign $$$ pitching this year and give more innings to Burnes, Woodruff, and Peralta. I’m just as excited to watch those three play this year as anybody on the team because I think all three are seriously talented.
kripes-brewers
I don’t disagree with what you’re saying, and I certainly hope those pitchers develop. However, his status as an elite GM is hinging on his decision/hope that a championship can be had without elite pitchers in the rotation – or that he can draft and develop several of them. That’s just not likely. It seems as though the thought is to just keep the other team below 4 or 5 runs by the sixth inning. That got them the division, but the really good teams can keep the Crew from scoring. I sincerely hope one of these young guns turns into a Bumgarner of 5 years ago, a Verlander, or Scherzer, but that is a long shot. At some point, an elite starter needs to be brought in, if for nothing else to show these kids how it’s done. But that’s why they play the games!
brewcrewer
The guys he started drafting are just now almost to the majors. I’m glad he hasn’t gone and either burned down the farm or spent crazy money on a pitcher. He’s trying to homegrow them, which is what a small market team does.
Im gonna look at his first couple draft classes and see what he’s got for pitching. I’m assuming burnes woodruff Peralta are all his.
lefty58
Give it a rest, you two sound like 4 year olds.
johnrealtime
Until he makes a mistake or two and many will call him overrated and garbage like happens with every other GM that isn’t blessed with a very short and successful track record
2id
He’s already made a mistake with the last minute Schoop trade for Villar, Ortiz, and Carmona. To his credit, he owned up to it and called it a mistake.
pinkerton
I guess that’s what happens when you get so many infielders.
brewcrew08
That joke stopped being funny when the brewers won the division.
bobtillman
I don’t think you have to be a Brewers’ fan to appreciate what Sterns has done. He’s in the same financial boat as the Rays and Reds, among others; how have they done the past 5 years?
Nick Stevens
The Rays have it very tough competing with the Yankees and Red Sox.
2id
And you could make the argument the NL Central has the Cardinals and Cubs.
Nick Stevens
Once the Cards start spending like Boston or NYY, then yes. And until recently, the Cubs weren’t perennial powers.
BottleRockets
new name
1 County Stadium
2 the Keg
3 Fear the Deer, Fear the Beer, Fear De Pere
4 the Am Fam Slam
5 American family Quarter-Barrel
firstbleed
I wish I was on the Marketing team, I’d pitch all types of names.
metnoxious
Brewers are just one of those teams that once your teams out of it they become your team.
brewcrewer
Glad to hear! come to a game sometime, show up about three hours early. you’ll be family by first pitch
jekporkins
Went to a game with my old man ten years ago (we’re from SF). We walked up to get tickets and some couple gave us their extras for $10 each. We had seats next to them right behind the dugout. They wanted to make sure it went to nice people they wanted to sit next to. I never forgot that. Fun town, great people.
johnrealtime
Nothing says inclusive like Ryan Braun and Josh Hader
jayfaraday
YES YES YES YES
bobtillman
Typical naming rights run about 5-8M. For the life of me, I can’t understand why some low-revenue team doesn’t answer many MLB issues by charging MLB 10M to name their park Jackie Robinson Stadium. It would be universally hailed, and a good thing to boot. MLB would probably love it so much, they’d ignore the Revenue Sharing ramifications. And yes, there are a few such named parks around, but they can easily be taken care of.
coldbeer
Lol @ $5-8M
Grow up Peter Pan.
pdxbrewcrew
The deal with Miller paid $2 M a year to the Brewers. Citizens Bank pay less than $4 M in Philadelphia.
$5-8 M might be high.
coldbeer
How about big markets?
jekporkins
I think Oracle paid $200 million for the Giants stadium.
coldbeer
Another graduate of the Mark Shapiro school of executive baseball management doing big things. Well earned.
Nick Stevens
Stearns learned most of what he knows working for Jeff Luhnow.
coldbeer
Yeah. Ok. Whatever you say there champ.
Nick Stevens
So what you’re saying is, you think you know more than everyone else, even if facts get in the way? Stearns worked less than a year for Cleveland and almost 3 years for Houston. I honestly don’t know how much he learned from either, but logic tells me since he spent more time with Houston, he might be more in the Luhnow way than Shapiro. Either way, I’m sure he learned something from both, Chump.
coldbeer
I’m saying that, clearly, i know more than you. But since you need to be proven wrong, here you go:
google.com/amp/s/amp.mlb.com/222614064-qa-david-st…
Nick Stevens
I’ve read this twice. Please show me the part where he states he learned nothing while working in Houston. You’ve proved nothing.
coldbeer
Read both questions and Stearns responses and tell me who it sounds like taught him more??
lefty58
Give it a rest, you two sound like 4 year olds.
johnrealtime
Lol best internet argument ever
canocorn
The day all baseball fans are in perfect harmonious agreement, please just pull the plug on me.
mkeyankee
Suspect he might have been far most instrumental in assembling the current Houston team than most realize.
Nick Stevens
Of course he was. He learned more on the job in Houston because he had more responsibility and more time to implement his vision.