HOMECOMING KING
Stearns thrilled to return to New York to run team he grew up rooting for
David Stearns would invariably receive a phone call from his excited mother each time his name was linked to a job with the Mets over the last few years. Invariably, Stearns would have to temper her enthusiasm.
Finally, last month, the Manhattan native who grew up rooting for the Mets got to tell his mother Susan that he was coming home.
“This time I didn’t have to calm her down, which was nice,” Stearns said Monday.
A day after a disappointing Mets season concluded, a new era began as Stearns, 38, was introduced at Citi Field as the team’s president of baseball operations and given a five-year contract for an estimated $50 million. The Harvard graduate spent seven seasons leading the Brewers front office before riding out his contract this year as a consultant within the organization.
Accompanied by his wife, Whitney Ann Lee, the new baseball ops president spoke of the thrill of the shared experience he will have with his children, who will now grow up rooting for the Mets.
Stearns admitted he used to sneak into Shea Stadium on occasion to watch the Mets.
“The good news about Shea in the late ’90s is you had some ticket takers and ushers who were pretty sympathetic to a 13year-old kid who just wanted to watch baseball,” Stearns said. “It only happened a couple of times — it may have happened with one specific usher. But most of the time I was a legal paying fan.”
The former Mets intern (Stearns worked for the organization in 2008 after college) is now charged with resurrecting a team that dramatically underperformed, with a 74-87 record and fourth-place finish in the NL East after spending a record $364 million on payroll last season.
It’s a hiring that was three years in the making for team owner Steve Cohen, who was twice denied permission to speak with Stearns while he was under contract with the Brewers.
“It’s universal that the people who work under David love working for him,” Cohen said. “He really was able to establish followership wherever he was. People describe him as incredibly smart, thoughtful, open to new ideas, inclusive. It sort of aligns with … how I like to run an organization, so it seemed like a pretty good fit.”
Stearns said he had four meetings and at least a dozen conversations with Cohen before accepting the job. It became obvious to Stearns that the Mets were the right fit during a dinner with Cohen and his wife, Alex.
“I think Steve and I do share a vision for what the Mets can and should be,” Stearns said. “And I think Steve also understands and Alex understands how important my family was to me and this really is a family endeavor.”
Stearns’ tasks include finding a new manager, following Buck Showalter’s firing Sunday. Stearns indicated previous managerial experience won’t be a requirement for the new hire, but the key ingredient will be compatibility with the front office.
As for the organizational direction, Stearns said he expects the Mets to compete for the playoffs next season, even as the team is retooling for the future.
“We are going to do our best to put together a team in 2024 that is competitive,” Stearns said. “And we’re going to do it in a way that does not detract from our competitiveness in the future years. That is a needle to thread, but that’s our goal and that should be our goal.
“We’re in the biggest market in the country. We have plenty of resources and we’re going to aim to put together a competitive club next year that our fans can be excited about and ensure that we’re doing it in a manner and in a way that doesn’t detract from the future years.”
Stearns also expressed confidence that Pete Alonso — who can become a free agent after the 2024 season — will begin next season in a Mets uniform.
“I know over the summer there was some trade speculation,” Stearns said. “[But] I expect Pete to be the Opening Day first baseman next year. Pete is an important member of this team. He’s an important member of this organization and I think we’re really fortunate to have him.”