Mets hire former Astros, Brewers executive Stearns
NEW YORK — David Stearns has agreed to become president of baseball operations for the underperforming New York Mets, according to several reports.
The 38-year-old will serve under owner Steve Cohen and above general manager Billy Eppler, the reports said Tuesday. Stearns led the Milwaukee Brewers’ baseball operations department from September of 2015 through the 2022 season before stepping down and moving into an advisory role.
Stearns is a New York City native and a Harvard graduate who interned with the Mets in 2007. He later spent three years working as assistant general manager for the Astros under Jeff Luhnow from 2012-15 before leaving for Milwaukee.
Milwaukee was one win from a World Series berth in 2018 and returned to the playoffs each of the next three seasons. The Brewers won NL Central titles in 2018 and 2021.
Stearns takes over a team that opened the season with a record $355 million payroll and became a huge disappointment. The Mets began Tuesday 13 games under .500 at 65-78 and were eliminated from the NL East race on Sept. 2.
Ohtani sits again with sore oblique
Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup for his ninth straight game as he continues to deal with a right oblique strain.
Angels manager Phil Nevin said he’s moving forward with the idea that the lineup will be absent Ohtani’s name until he says he’s ready to go.
Ohtani was originally in the lineup for Monday’s series opener in Seattle, but after going through his pregame workout was scratched.
Padres shut Darvish down for the season
Yu Darvish won't pitch again for the San Diego Padres this season due to a stress reaction in his elbow.
The 37-year-old hasn't pitched since Aug. 25, and the Padres ultimately decided it wasn't worth attempting to squeeze a few more starts out of the five-time All-Star in their disappointing season.
Odds and ends
The Tampa Bay Rays placed center fielder Jose Siri on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a fractured right hand . ... The Blue Jays place infielder Brandon Belt on the 10-day disabled list with muscle spasms in his back.