The Mets formally announced David Stearns as the club’s new president of baseball operations today, making official the long-speculated upon move weeks after a deal was between the sides was first reported. Club owner Steve Cohen released a statement this morning ahead of Stearns’s introductory press conference this afternoon.
“I’m incredibly excited to welcome David back to Queens,” Cohen said in the statement, “I said numerous times I wanted to find the right person for this position, and I believe David is exactly that – an experienced executive with a wide range of skillsets that will push our baseball operations forward.” Stearns, meanwhile, said in the statement that “there is not an opportunity in baseball more meaningful to me than the chance to help lead this franchise” before recounting his childhood as a Mets fan. Later in the day, the club introduced Stearns in a press conference.
During the presser, Stearns thanked recently-fired manager Buck Showalter for his contributions to the organization and, as relayed by Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News, emphasized that he was not able to talk with the former manager before today because he was still under contract with the Brewers. As far as the search for a new manager goes, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com relayed that Stearns plans on casting a wide net and has no one in particular in mind. Stearns’s comments come amid widespread speculation that current Brewers manager Craig Counsell, whose contract in Milwaukee expires after the 2023 campaign, could follow his former boss to New York. Of course, Counsell has made no indication on whether he intends to manage at all in 2024, much less whether he intends on leaving the Brewers.
Perhaps the most significant news to come from Stearns’s introductory presser is that the club’s new executive plans to retain first baseman Pete Alonso headed into next season. Stearns told reporters (including Newsday’s Tim Healey) that he expects Alonso to be the club’s Opening Day first baseman in 2024, with DiComo adding praise for Alonso from Stearns. “Pete is a great player,” Stearns said, “He is also good in the clubhouse, and he is also homegrown. All of that matters.”
The assurance from Stearns that Alonso will be part of the 2024 club is surely a relief to Mets fans, given reporting in recent months that the Mets looked into trades involving Alonso ahead of the trade deadline this year, with the Cubs and Brewers among interested parties. Those reports, combined with comments from recently-traded ace Max Scherzer following the trade deadline indicating a potential step back in 2024, led to plenty of speculation about whether or not the club would deal Alonso this offseason, ahead of the slugger’s final year of club control. Alonso slashed .217/.318/.504 with 46 home runs in 658 trips to the plate this season.
I’m skeptical that Counsel will leave a job in his home state that is stable, successful, and where he’s very well liked. It’s not like he’s being paid peanuts in Milwaukee
Who wants to deal with obnoxious NY fans media…
Best fans in the world at the ballpark. Worst calling in to WFAN or commenting on articles on SNY or Yahoo. Clown radio hosts and tabloid columnists are the absolute worst human beings. They are don’t really understand the game and live to incite to attract attention. I will never forgive Dick Young for driving Seaver out of NY. The current columnists are just as stupid and vindictive.
Cos those current columnists are all retro freaks or Dumb Jock thinkers.
I will never forgive Dick Young for driving Seaver out of NY.
=============================
I remember Young for being the guy that was making fun of Ewing for saying “my parents installed that in me”, instead of “instilled”.
It sounded tinged with racism, but even without that, is the installed/instilled thing where someone wants to make their stand? Lots of people get that wrong.
Stearn’s and Cohen’s first order of business in order…
-Sign James Paxton to monster 10-year contract
-Bring back Cano as your second bagger. You’re still paying him so why not.
-Trade for Giancarlo Stanton and extend him.
-Make Vogey the highest paid figure in all of sports.
-Bring in beloved Met Ed Kranepool as your new skipper.
-Fire George Costanza
-Eliminate Jon Voit day.
-If you’re still paying Bobby Bonilla, see if he will platoon at DH with Vogey.
-Consider moving the whole team to Poughkeepsie.
Even better…move them to Brooklyn.
Another thoughtful comment
@worthington- Who wants to deal with a worthless fan like yourself?
Especially when Cohen and Stearns just showed themselves in how they handled Buck’s dismissal. I don’t think established managers like Counsell will be eager to take that job.
@screwball
Stearns couldn’t contact Buck because he was still under contract in Milwaukee. Begs the question whether he sacked him with his psychic powers.
All appears a bit unseemly to be honest, and rather disrespectful to Buck.
Regardless, I’d assume Cohen will be a bit more discerning than this off season, rather than following the Moreno “kid in a candy store” approach that have suited the Angels so well….
It’s just business and (my opinion) not disrespectful to Showalter.
If the roles were reversed, I’d presume Buck – or any professional- would take the same route. Cohen is giving Stearns the chance to begin with a clean slate – right away.
Just suppose Stearns were to keep Showalter. And next year, in the last year of Buck’s contract, the Mets rebound. Then Stearns would be sacking Buck – after a strong season – to install whomever he wants to be his own guy.
A bad look. Very Wilpon/Brody-like.
I’m skeptical that you’re skeptical. Ahahaha!
Food for thought—
Craig Counsell’s actual nickname is Chicken.
That name is taken in NY, Fred Stanley, SS and one of the architects of the 96-2000 Yankees
I think you’re confusing Fred Stanley with Gene Michael. Michael was integral in building the Yankees in the 90’s.
Thank you Badfinger, yes, Stick, not Chicken for the 96-2000 Yankees.
Do your homework. Yes, he played for the Yanks, but you’re confusing him with the Stick, Gene Michael.
@Buckner: Michael also played for the Yankees 1968-74.
No kidding, Did I say that he did not play for them?
Did I say you did?
@CardsFan57: His contract is done when the Brewers finish postseason play and he declined to negotiate a new one, so he’s already leaving the job.
Plus, he has a close relationship with Stearns and money, of which the Mets can offer him more than any other organization, talks and BS walks.
He told the Brewers owner to wait until the off season to negotiate, he wanted to watch his son’s play college ball in the Midwest, he was born in Wisconsin, grew up a Brewers fan and his dad worked in the front office. He has a stable life in Wisconsin and he’s not gonna ditch that for Stearns (Stearns also infact did not hire Counsell)
Counsell was there before stearns. Actually, their relationship was negative. Zero % chance counsell goes to nym.
OK. There will be plenty of good candidates to pick from.
Like, who, Baron??
Bench coach Eric Chavez, Padres manager Bob Melvin and bench coach Ryan Flaherty, Braves bench coach Walt Weiss, Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann and 1B coach Clyde McCullough, Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy (considered when they hired Luis Rojas in 2020), and Angels bench coach Ray Montgomery have all been mentioned in various reports.
nypost.com/2023/10/01/potential-mets-manager-candi…
Baron: Other than Melvin in your list (swiped from NYPost), there’s not a lot of managerial experience there.
Walt Weiss, ok perhaps that qualifies. Barely, But Weiss is a loser.
I hope they do not choose a rookie manager. But also hope they don’t hire away that old curmudgeon Dusty Baker. He won’t play the kids.
.
@Buckner: Swiped from the NY Post?
More accurately attributed to and citing the Post as a source, link included.
And Weiss is bench coach for one the top teams in MLB. That doesn’t sound to me like a loser, whatever that even means.
What are you so POed about?
Walks are as good as singles
And?
They’re actually not, shocking as that is
I’m sure you meant the BEST fans in baseball. It’s ok I fixed it for you. Ahahaha!
Stearns is Just another college frat boy analytics weenie.
Those are the guys running every successful team today so what you thought was an insult is a compliment.
Also, I take it you could not get into a fraternity and hold it against all of them to this day. Must have been a truly sad day when you realized not one fraternity wanted you as a brother.
another college frat boy analytics weenie
====================
So you’re more into uneducated innumerates?
Analytics is the new “old boy network”; you just keep hiring your frat boy friends from college.
So you are saying they keep hiring college educated people who know how to get along with others well?
Would you prefer they hire uneducated people that cannot get along well with others?
How mad are you that those types are taking over baseball and their opinion on the game is very important and yours isn’t not even a little a bit?
The TWTW is strong in this one.
Harvard, aka Hahvahd where I went to school, actually has little Greek life, the oldest house, a Sigma Chi chapter, only dating back to 1992.
The campus is better known for “final clubs” such the Porcellian Club and the Hasty Pudding Club.
Why is Craig Counsel a good manager? Or was he just a yes man in the Milwaukee dugout and POBO’s and GM’s just want yes men in the dugout.
Not even. Brewers ownership brought counsell in before stearns and signed him long term. Stearns had no choice but to work with Counsell. Absolutely, believe that was a factor in Stearns sitting out this season.
Stearns only likes his guys.
Stearns signed Counsell to a his 1st extension in 2017 and a second 3 year extension in Jan. 2020.
If Craig leaves for New York then good riddance. Don’t want anyone here that doesn’t want to be there. With that being said, I see Craig taking some time off. He seems eager to spend time with his family. His kids are playing ball right now and he’s expressed how much he wants to be apart of that.
We got a good one in Matt Arnold folks. Thank you for your service David. You truly turned baseball around in Milwaukee and mentored a good one
Craig would be miserable in New York. Great city. Great fans. But it isn’t for everyone.
Unless you know Counsell personally, you have no way to know that.
I wasn’t around when the show was, but at some point watched a rerun, this guy Stearns looks a lot like Arnold Horshack.
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Mr Cohen!!
google.com/search?q=arnold+horshack&ie=UTF-8&…
“signed, theo epstein’s mother”
The affluent areas in North Jersey, Connecticut, Hudson Valley etc look the same as the wealthy suburbs of all major league cities. Not like say a Counsell would be living in a tenement on the lower east side. I’m sure he won’t be fazed by the Long Island loudmouths living with their parents and speed dialing sports radio hosts at 3 AM
Stick with your 10 cent beer. You should venture out beyond Route 4 once in a while. We’re going to disagree on your comment, “look the same as the wealthy suburbs of all major league cities.”
Silly.
We? You mean you. Don’t presume to answer for anyone but yourself.
Great press conference. Guessing now we know for sure that Scherzer was full of it.
Alonso staying. Looking forward to adding pitching from FA market. Expecting to contend in 2024. No player that they feel can make the team better that they will be out of running on.
Future looks bright in Flushing.
Alonso will stay if and only if he wants to, just like deGrom. We won’t know if he really wants to until he actually signs a new contract.
But the future looks bright in Flushing either way.
Why do Alonso’s stays this year remind me of Dave Kingman?
Not a good year for him. He’ll always put up power numbers, but the avg and obp way below where they’ve been for him in his full seasons.
Alonso is under contract through 2024. There had been rumors he would be traded.
He still might be if Stearns decides not to offer something like a 10-year extension.
Other long term contracts for first basemen like Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols have aged poorly, and if the Cardinals could let Pujols walk after winning the World Series, the Mets could easily trade Alonso or let him leave as a free agent. And I trust Stearns enough that I would be fine with it if he believes it’s in the organization’s best interest.
There’s nothing worse than getting fixated on keeping a particular player no matter the cost.
Cabrera was extended at 33. Pujols signed as a FA at 32. Alonso is 28.
Alonso is not getting a 10/254 or 8/240 extension. He will get something close to Olson’s deal with the Braves. In the 8/160-170 range.
Stearns just said he won’t be traded this offseason. There are no FA at any position that can replace his production. If it takes 2 guys to replace one players production that means the team overall is worse.
Alonso will be a Met at least through 2024. If Baty or Vientos can both be even an average player in 2024 then they might stick on the team but it’s far more likely that Mauricio sticks and plays 3B and Vientos and Baty either become a backup or are traded.
Actually, I believe in an article on the Brewers website, Counsell indicated he does indeed intend to manage in 2024, but him the Brewers owner agreed they wouldn’t talk about an extension until the offseason, as Counsell wanted to weigh his choices.
About damn time! Perhaps the worst kept MLB secret of 2023. Y’all knew Stearns would be with the Mets. Buck is a decent manager; he was not right for this team. Looking forward to see how Stearns will do with all things Mets as the POBO.
“Ummm .. I think me and Steve Uhhhh… we have a great relationship Ummmmmm… yeah so we are built to be Uhhh… competative in the future Uhhhh…. longterm competativeness”
He needs to get a speech coach, never seen a big executive have such bad speech patterns
#FireUhDaveyUmmmStuhheruhhhns
I got you.
Although he’s, you know, the Mets’ POBO while you’re just posting lame comments on an internet thread.
I think we can overlook a few ummms without you trying to make a big deal out of it.
Personally, I like to give someone at least 4 hours in a position before judging them.
But I can see how that might be a little too lenient for some.
You mean like the genius who posted #FireUhDaveyUmmmStuhheruhhhns?
LOL
There’s a joke in there, but I’m not sure you’ve found it.
Maybe I will when you find the joke in mine.
If he can save the NBA, maybe he has a chance with the Mets. At least when they lose badly in the future, they won’t get dunked on. So embarrassing
I know this is not the favorite idea, but selling high on Pete Alonso right now seems like a good idea. The fact that they could get a bevy of pitching prospects and probably a high end starter if not two, would fit right up the Stearns alley. He does tend to focus on pitching and that is where the Mets could really use some help. Don’t get me wrong, I like Pete, its just if Alvarez continues growing along with the others in the lineup, Pete’s swing or miss type of hitting would be over excessive with the young talent in the upcoming years.
Let’s take a step back and examine this for a moment. (And please stop using the word “fact” to describe our opinions).
The notion that we can get “a bevy of pitching prospects..” for only ONE year of Alonso before his free agency seems misguided to me. (Bevy means “a large group”, by the way). But you want a bevy AND a high end starter or two… so four, five, or more high-level pitchers in total… for one year of a slugging first-baseman just doesn’t track with the way the trade market regards high-level pitching, nor rental players.
I love Pete, but one year of team control (at a raise over his current $14M) isn’t getting you back that kind of package. Mookie Betts was younger and more decorated than Pete and even *he* didn’t pull in a top tier pitching prospect when the Red Sox traded him in his last arb year.
Alonso is a rental. Just one season of team control. So its not a fact that they could get a “bevy of pitching prospects” for him, let alone a high end starter.
Stearns has already said Alonso won’t be traded.
Even if they decided to trade Alonso, who is going to replace him? There is certainly no one on the FA market.
Stearns can and might change his mind for the right offer, and I trust him to do whatever is best for the organization.
They might give Vientos a shot or pick up a guy like Josh Bell. No player is irreplaceable.
Name one guy that can replace Alonso’s production.
It’s not essential to replicate exactly what he does number-for-number with one player, and it’s important to avoid a bad long term contract like the Angels gave Pujols, the Tigers gave Cabrera, or the Mariners gave Cano.
And there’s no guarantee that he will produce at the same level as he ages, which is exactly why it’s important to avoid the bad long term contract.
The best organizations are flexible and produce young talent to replace older, more expensive players.
I always love people that answer questions about specifics with backpedaling and well, but. but, but illogical spin.
See my answer above. There are no free agents other than Bellinger that would be an upgrade at any position. Alonso IS a younger player. He is 28.
@BaseballisLife: But a 10-year extension would take him to 38 or 39.
You missed my point. It’s not just about 2024.
@outinleftfield: I always love people who come out of left field with snarky remarks that demonstrate no thought and add nothing.
And well, but, but, but that’s your opinion.
Opinions are like butts. Everybody has one.
You don’t like others “snarky” comments????
POT
KETTLE
BLACK.
You missed the point entirely. He is is his prime now. There is no one in FA at any position other than Bellinger that can even come close to replacing him. He won’t GET 10 years so continuing to bring that up is ludicrous. It has no bearing on the discussion. Finally and most importantly Stearns said he won’t be traded. Discussion over.
STILL no specifics. Just insults and vague answers based in lala land. Either say specifically WHO the Mets would have to receive in a trade for Alonso and HOW that would help their team win now, their stated goal, of STFU about Alonso. Anything else you say will just prove how wrong you were to start with.
Of course it’s about 2024. Alonso is not under contract past 2024. That is the point.
But the overriding issue is whether and for how much to sign him to a king-term extension.
THAT is the point you seem unable to grasp.
Blue, its pathetic that you are still trying to argue this point. Your POBO said he won’t be traded. That should have been the end of the discussion.
It doesn’t matter what he will earn in FA because in 2024 he will be a Met and discussions of trading him are a moot point
@outinleftfield: It’s not my job to name players and formulate trades for the Mets. That’s what Messrs. Stearns and Eppler get paid to do.
Apparently, Alonso is so upset about what happened to Showalter that his relationship with the team is not the best right now. That’s a fact reported today by Mike Puma of the NY Post.
“Reports are coming out of Chicago that the Cubs are going to try everything possible to acquire Alonso this offseason. They reported tried to get him at the trade deadline and are expected to again pursue him heavily.
“Not looking great for Alonso and the Mets.”
Sorry if you don’t like it, but don’t shoot the messenger.
Read my post about Alonso, Showalter, and his relationship with the Mets, and don’t shoot the messenger.
The part about the Cubs is a direct quote.
@outinleftfield: Doesn’t look very moot, does it?
instagram.com/p/Cx8sklkSUIW/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA…
@outinleftfield: Funny that you’re suddenly silent. Guess you’ve retreated back to left field.
But feel free to admit you’re wrong any time. I won’t hold it against you.
You are the arguing that Alonso should be traded AFTER Stearns said he won’t be, so it is incumbent on you to back up your garbage.
He is right. Your pushing the point long after being called out on it is pathetic.
If you can’t back up your comment with actual and specific players then you are saying you are full of it and just arguing to argue.
What part of Stearns said Alonso will not be traded do you not understand? Are you really stupid enough that you believe an Instagram account over the person who actually makes the decision?
Please provide a link proving that Stearns specifically said Alonso would not be traded. I bet you can’t.
What he actually said was that expects Alonso will the team’s opening day first baseman next year.
That’s very different and leaves a lot of wiggle room for the Mets to decide to trade him.
Why would he have made such an absolute statement anyway? What if, say, the Cubs come across with a great offer that knocks Stearns’ and Eppler’s socks off? They would be negligent in their jobs not to listen.
I have no idea what players they might ask for or be offered, but Alonso apparently likes the idea of joining the Cubs.
Don’t shoot me for being the messenger. Go argue with the news source.
Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.
instagram.com/p/Cx8sklkSUIW/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA…
I can’t wait for the comments when MLBTR gets around to running a story on THIS rumor.
Actually, you are the one trying to float that BS idea, so it IS your job to defend it after STearns already said it was NOT happening.
That is NOT a fact, its a rumor since Alonso was not QUOTED saying that, it was supposedly said “by a person in the room”. twitter.com/NYPost_Mets/status/1708975007295046124
358Baseball is an Instagram account, not David Stearns alter ego. They don’t know any more about what is going to happen than you and I do. In fact, there are NO rumors in the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, or on THIS website about the Cubs and Alonso. So you go ahead and believe an Instagram account.
Do you know who DOES know? David Stearns. What did HE say? That Alonso was NOT being traded.
And just so you know, I am a REAL baseball fan, not a message board fan, so I was actually WATCHING the playoffs.
It was linked to on THIS website. Do you actually READ the articles? I guess not. You are truly pathetic.
Again, an instagram account is not news. Its your pathetic attempt to find ANYTHING that agrees with your BS.
So you say. Where is the link showing that he specifically said Alonso would not be traded?
You’re not selling high on him if you trade him now. Nobody values him more than the Mets do. And he’s not historically a “swing and miss” player. He had a bad year average wise. But that’s not really what he’s paid to do necessarily. 250-260 would be more acceptable. Which he’s done before.
One year of Pete gets one near top tier but not quite top tier pitching prospect and a couple of lower level could be prospects. That’s about it. It’s only one year of control.
I do think you might be able to get a top tier sp prospect if the org desperately needs a premiere power bat. Even for one year (especially if they feel they can extend him).
“Meanwhile” can’t come in the middle of the sentence, Deeds. Only at the start.