Questions Surrounding the Contract of David Stearns May Indicate 2022 Is His Last Year with Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers have had their best run of success under the leadership of David Stearns. First hired as one of the youngest general managers in the history of baseball in 2016, Stearns turned the perennial losing franchise around. Now within reach of a fifth straight postseason appearance, the Brewers may (or may not) be in the final weeks of the David Stearns era in Milwaukee.

It Is Unclear If David Stearns Has an Option for 2023

Since his hire as general manager, David Stearns has been promoted to the President of Baseball Operations. This promotion was, no doubt, deserved. However, it was also intended to keep the Harvard graduate in Milwaukee for a longer period of time. Unsurprisingly, Stearns is a highly coveted executive around baseball. The New York Mets, for example, have been trying to lure the Queens native away from the Brewers for well over a year.

The Milwaukee Brewers, of course, do not want to lose David Stearns. When the Mets requested permission to interview Stearns for their general manager position last year, the Brewers denied their request. While the Mets have put together a winning team under Billy Eppler, they still could lure Stearns away with their own President of Baseball Operations job.

Now, here is where the question lies: when does David Stearns’ contract end? MLB Trade Rumors did an excellent job of laying out the timeline of what we knew (or thought we knew) about Stearns’ contract. New York Post writer Jon Hayman is cited numerous times in the MLB Trade Rumors article.

In short, it was first believed that the Milwaukee Brewers had David Stearns under contract until the end of 2022. However, a pair of conflicting reports came out in the early months of this year. First, it was reported that David Stearns was actually under contract until 2023. Then, it was reported that Stearns could opt out of the deal if the Brewers reached the World Series in 2022. Later, after the season started, Jon Hayman wrote that Stearns was interested in a position with the New York Mets and could opt out if the Brewers reached the NLCS. Now Hayman is saying that it is unconfirmed whether or not Stearns can opt out.

What Does This Mean for the Milwaukee Brewers?

Of course, you may read this and ask, “What’s the point? We really don’t know anything, do we?” And you are not completely wrong. The Brewers have kept the details of the David Stearns contract out of the public eye. However, what this does mean for Milwaukee and their fans is that David Stearns has options. He may be interested in leaving.

I believe that there is a reason that Mark Attanasio signed general manager Matt Arnold to a contract extension before this season began. At the time of the extension, Arnold was a target of the New York Mets for their general manager position. It is my opinion that Stearns’ days in Milwaukee are nearing an end. His recent trade deadline moves were immensely unpopular and remain questionable. To say the team has struggled since the Josh Hader trade would be an understatement. All of these things could lead to a parting of ways between Stearns and the Brewers organization. If that happens, look for Matt Arnold to be promoted to President of Baseball Operations and for the Brewers to search for a new general manager.

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