Brewers front office gets major shakeup going into 2022 offseason

Milwaukee Brewers President of Baseball Operations David Stearns is stepping down.

In a move that has sent shockwaves amongst not only Milwaukee Brewers fans, but the Major League Baseball industry as a whole, Brewers President of Baseball Operations David Stearns is stepping down from his position.

Brewers general manager Matt Arnold will reportedly be taking over the baseball operations side of things, but this move is truly a stunner after Stearns rose to prominence as the mastermind behind the dramatic shift in the Brewers organization upon his hiring in 2015.

Long rumored as a possible fit in the New York Mets organization as its POBO due to both the interest from the club and the fact that Stearns is a New York native, the speculation is about to really take off now that he is out of that role in Milwaukee.

Brewers: David Stearns to step down as President of Baseball Operations

Stearns became the Brewers GM in 2015, replacing longtime general manager Doug Melvin and becoming the youngest exec in MLB at the time of his hire at 30 years old.

Of course, he is the man responsible for bringing a multitude of star-caliber players to Milwaukee including Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich, Travis Shaw, Hunter Renfroe, Mike Moustakas and Freddy Peralta, but it was a trade that sent a player away that may have sealed his fate.

At this year’s trade deadline, Stearns and Co. made the decision to trade away beloved closer Josh Hader to the Padres for a package of players that was meant to improve the team in both the short term and long term.

While the jury is still out on the prospects sent back to the Brewers, many found it puzzling that the club elected to trade away its otherworldly closer in the heat of a pennant race.

The Brewers have a press conference scheduled for 10 AM CT on Thursday, Stearns has already commented on the move.

"“This is not an easy decision for me and is something I have been wrestling with for a long time. Mark Attanasio (owner) and I have an open dialogue and we both knew this day would eventually come. It has been a priority for both of us that any transition would take place while the organization is in a healthy position with solid leadership and a talented roster going forward.”"

Under the direction of Stearns and Arnold, the Brewers have made the postseason in four of the last five years with this year’s squad finishing just one game behind the Phillies in the NL Wild Card chase.

Arnold, 43, also joined the Brewers in 2015 as assistant GM before being promoted in 2020. He has 22 seasons in professional baseball under his belt, spending time in the Dodgers, Rangers, Reds and Rays organizations.

Arnold has also commented on the news.

"“I want to thank Mark and David for their support throughout my seven years here. I am excited to be taking the reins in leading our baseball operations efforts. We have a dedicated staff that has identified and developed talent at both the amateur and professional levels. This has served us well over the years and will allow for a seamless transition. Milwaukee and Wisconsin are home to our family and home to fans who consistently demonstrate their passion for the Brewers. I embrace the opportunity to continue working toward our goal – winning a World Series.”"