Stearns’ fingerprints all over Brewers' World Series run

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 17, 2026

David Stearns, now with the New York Mets, was instrumental in building nearly half of the Milwaukee Brewers roster that reached the World Series for the first time in 44 years. His decisions during seven years as Brewers president of baseball operations laid the foundation for the team's recent success, including key trades, drafts, and international signings that contributed to their NLCS sweep over the Dodgers.

David Stearns, currently the president of baseball operations for the New York Mets, played a significant role in shaping the Milwaukee Brewers roster that recently secured the franchise’s first World Series appearance in 44 years. Although Stearns departed the Brewers organization in October 2022, he remained an adviser for a year before moving to the Mets, leaving a lasting imprint on nearly half of the team that swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

Stearns served as the Brewers’ general manager and later president of baseball operations from September 2015 through October 2022. During his tenure, he made key decisions through the amateur draft, international signings, and trades that laid the groundwork for the current roster. His former assistant general manager, Matt Arnold, took over following Stearns’ departure and executed moves that helped the Brewers advance past the NLCS this season.

Of the 26 players on Milwaukee’s NLCS roster, Stearns was responsible for acquiring 11, many of whom contributed significantly to the team’s success. Among these is Christian Yelich, traded from the Miami Marlins in January 2018 in exchange for four prospects. Yelich went on to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 and later signed a seven-year, $188.5 million extension under Stearns' leadership in 2020.

Stearns also drafted several key pieces of the team, including second baseman Brice Turang with the 21st overall pick in 2018. Turang debuted in 2023, earned MVP votes in 2025, and posted a 7.3 wins above replacement (WAR) this year. That same draft produced pitcher Aaron Ashby, selected three rounds later, who transitioned from starter to reliever by 2024.

International signings under Stearns included high-potential players such as reliever Abner Uribe, signed in 2018 from the Dominican Republic, and outfielder Jackson Chourio, acquired at age 16 from Venezuela in 2020. Chourio was initially signed as a shortstop before finding success in the outfield.

The Brewers’ 2020 and 2021 drafts also featured notable selections by Stearns, including Garrett Mitchell (first-round pick, 2020), Sal Frelick (first-round pick, 2021), and Logan Henderson (2021). Mitchell made his major league debut in 2022 and had impactful moments in the NLCS despite injury challenges, while Frelick reached the majors by 2023, and Henderson emerged as a key part of the pitching rotation.

Other significant players attributed to Stearns’ leadership include pitcher Luis Lara, signed internationally from Venezuela in 2022, and Jacob Misiorowski, a 2022 second-round pick projected to contend for the National League Cy Young Award following his standout debut last year.

Robert Gasser, who delivered five scoreless innings in Game 3 of the NLCS, was part of the package received in exchange for Josh Hader in a trade orchestrated by Stearns. While initially criticized, that trade has paid dividends as Gasser has become an important contributor. Another player from the Hader deal, Esteury Ruiz, was part of a subsequent trade for catcher William Contreras under Arnold’s tenure.

Stearns’ influence on the Brewers’ current roster underscores the foundational work carried out during his seven years overseeing baseball operations, setting the stage for Milwaukee’s pursuit of its first World Series title.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.