There is a new boss in town for the New York Mets.
After months of speculation, Owner Steve Cohen is prepared to make former Milwaukee Brewers General Manager David Stearns his new President of Baseball Operations. The move creates plenty of intriguing questions about the future of the franchise moving forward.
The 38-year old Stearns will sign a five-year deal with the Mets that takes him through the 2028 season, and will begin work once the season ends in three weeks.
Right Hand Man
One thing is certain, according to reports, the Mets will retain General Manager Billy Eppler who will serve as Stearns’ right hand man.
The Mets will begin work immediately looking to fill out vacancies in the front office namely Directors of Player Development and Pro Scouting. Both jobs became available after some recent shake-ups.
The two biggest questions that will face Stearns right out of the gate are the futures of manager Buck Showalter, and the first baseman Pete Alonso.
Buck Showalter’s Future
Despite winning 101 games and Manager of the Year in 2022, many believe that this could be it for Showalter. According to Baseball writer Michael Marino, there is a thought Showalter could step away.
Whether he is dismissed or resigns, Stearns could turn to current Brewers manager Craig Counsell. Counsell is not under contract for 2024. He could join the Mets if he wants to manage again. There was also rumor he could step away from the game too.
Pete Alonso’s Future
Will Pete Alonso be a Met in 2024? There was a story earlier this month that the Mets actually considered trading Alonso to Milwaukee, ironically. That didn’t happen obviously. Alonso is a free agent after next season. While he has crushed over 40 homers this year, Alonso has struggled at the plate hitting around .225 all year. The Mets could try to move him in the off-season. If they do, Stearns would really need a huge return to quell angry Mets fans.
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