What to know about David Stearns' time as the Milwaukee Brewers general manager
David Stearns will leave the Milwaukee Brewers for the New York Mets at the end of the 2023 season.
The soon-to-be former Brewers executive will forever be remembered for helping revive the team to playoff contention with four consecutive playoff appearances.
Here's what to know about our departing former general manager.
David Stearns was the youngest general manager in MLB history
David Stearns took over as general manager of the Brewers in September 2015, entering as the youngest general manager in baseball at 30 years old. Now 38, the Manhattan-born baseball executive will take over one of his hometown teams.
In his tenure with the Brewers, Stearns oversaw one of the best playoff runs in Brewers history, reaching the playoffs with five teams in a row between 2017 and 2021. He went 54-479 (.536) in his seven full seasons with the Brewers.
Prior to Milwaukee, he worked in the MLB Central Office where he helped negotiate the MLB's collective bargaining agreement, was hired in December 2011 by the Cleveland Guardians as co-director of baseball operations and was hired in November 2012 as assistant general manager for the Houston Astros.
How long has David Stearns been with Milwaukee?
Stearns served as general manager and president of baseball operations from September 2015 to October 2022 when he resigned after the Brewers missed the playoffs for the first time in five years. He then took on an advisory role with ownership.
In his time in Milwaukee, the Brewers clinched five playoff berths, won the 2018 National League Central division, traded for eventual 2018 NL MVP winner Christian Yelich, and took the team to one NLCS game.
What were good major deals David Stearns made with the Brewers?
Notable deals Stearns was involved in included:
Acquired outfielder Christian Yelich from Miami Marlins for outfielders Lewis Brinson and Monte Harrison, infielder Isan Diaz and pitcher Jordan Yamamoto in 2018. Yelich won NL MVP that same season.
Signed center fielder Lorenzo Cain to five-year, $80 million deal in 2018
Acquired shortstop Willy Adames and pitcher Trevor Richards from the Tampa Bay Rays for pitchers Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen in 2021.
Acquired pitchers Freddy Peralta, Carlos Herrera and Daniel Missaki from Seattle Mariners for first baseman Adam Lind in late 2015.
Acquired third baseman Travis Shaw, infielder Mauricio Dubon, pitcher Josh Pennington and infielder Yeison Coca from Boston Red Sox for relief pitcher Tyler Thornburg in 2016.
Signed first baseman Eric Thames to three-year, $16 million deal in late 2016.
Acquired pitcher Eric Lauer and shortstop Luis Urías from San Diego Padres for pitcher Zach Davies and outfielder Trent Grisham in late 2019.
Acquired pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black from San Francisco Giants for infielder Mauricio Dubon in 2019.
Acquired outfielder Hunter Renfroe from Boston Red Sox for outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., shortstop David Hamilton and third baseman Alex Binelas in late 2021.
Signed catcher Yasmani Grandal and infielder Mike Moustakas in 2019.
More: The 10 best moves in the Brewers' David Stearns era (and seven of the worst)
What were bad deals David Stearns made with the Brewers?
Traded closer Josh Hader to San Diego Padres for pitchers Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet and Robert Gasser and outfielder Esteury Ruiz in 2022.
Traded reliever Will Smith to Giants for pitcher Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac in 2017.
Traded right-hander Reese Olson to Detroit Tigers for left-hander Daniel Norris in 2021.
Lost second baseman Scooter Gennett to waivers in 2017.
Traded infielder Jonathan Villar, pitcher Luis Ortiz and infielder Jean Carmona to Baltimore for infielder Jonathan Schoop in 2018.
Signed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. to two-year, $24 million deal in 2021.
JR Radcliffe contributed to this report.
Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is new New York Mets general manager David Stearns?
