Born Feb 18, 1985 · Manhattan, NY · age 41
Built the small-market Milwaukee Brewers into a regular postseason team through a disciplined, analytical approach, then returned home to run the New York Mets as president of baseball operations.
10 seasons with salary-era data across 2 stints. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.
| Team | Role | Years | Szns | WAB | WAB/yr | TAB | WAR surp | HG | Trade | FA | R5 | AcqLev | W-L% | PO | Pen | WS | Surp $M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▸ Mets | POBO/GM | 2024–present | 2 | -8.5 | -4.23 | +1.2 | -91.7 | +7.3 | +4.2 | +5.1 | -0.9 | 3.09 | 0.505 | 1 | – | – | -445 |
| ▸ Brewers | POBO/GM | 2016–2022 | 6 | +57.6 | +9.61 | +43.3 | +52.3 | +29.4 | +46.4 | -18.1 | +0.0 | 3.25 | 0.536 | 4 | – | – | +182 |
| Career total (1985+ data) | 10 | +49.2 | +44.5 | -39.4 | +36.7 | +50.7 | -13.0 | -0.9 | 3.20 | 0.527 | 5 | – | – | -263 | |||
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across David Stearns's seasons. Bars = his rosters; the black line = the league-average player at each slot. Staying above the line deep into the roster is the depth edge.
| Player | Pos | Team | How | Year | Szns | fWAR | WAR/yr | Lev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Yelich | OF | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 9 | +28.2 | +3.1 | 24.0 |
| Corbin Burnes | P | MIL | Draft | 2016 | 5 | +17.9 | +3.6 | – |
| William Contreras | C | MIL | Trade | 2022 | 4 | +16.7 | +4.2 | 8.7 |
| Willy Adames | SS | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 4 | +15.9 | +4.0 | 19.0 |
| Juan Soto | OF | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 2 | +8.8 | +4.4 | 33.4 |
| Manny Piña | C | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 6 | +7.5 | +1.2 | 0.1 |
| Travis Shaw | 3B | MIL | Trade | 2017 | 2 | +6.9 | +3.5 | 12.9 |
| Yasmani Grandal | C | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +5.7 | +5.7 | 15.5 |
| Garrett Mitchell | OF | MIL | Draft | 2022 | 5 | +5.5 | +1.1 | – |
| Eric Thames | 1B/OF | MIL | Free agency | 2016 | 3 | +5.2 | +1.7 | 7.1 |
| Luis Urías | 2B/3B | MIL | Trade | 2019 | 3 | +5.1 | +1.7 | 4.3 |
| Kolten Wong | 2B | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | 2 | +4.9 | +2.5 | 15.3 |
| Jonathan Villar | 2B/SS | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 3 | +4.6 | +1.5 | 0.6 |
| Omar Narváez | C | MIL | Trade | 2020 | 3 | +4.6 | +1.5 | 6.7 |
| Keon Broxton | OF | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 3 | +4.4 | +1.5 | 0.4 |
| Chase Anderson | P | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 3 | +4.3 | +1.4 | 0.0 |
| Aaron Ashby | P | MIL | Draft | 2018 | 5 | +4.1 | +0.8 | – |
| Jesús Aguilar | 1B | MIL | Trade | 2017 | 2 | +4.0 | +2.0 | 3.6 |
| Sean Manaea | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 3 | +3.9 | +1.3 | 7.2 |
| Nolan McLean | P | NYM | Draft | 2025 | 2 | +3.4 | +1.7 | – |
| Jace Peterson | 2B/3B | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 3 | +3.3 | +1.1 | 3.9 |
| Junior Guerra | P | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 3 | +3.3 | +1.1 | 0.4 |
| Luis Torrens | C | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 3 | +3.2 | +1.1 | 2.2 |
| Clay Holmes | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 2 | +3.1 | +1.6 | 10.0 |
| Avisaíl García | OF | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 2 | +2.7 | +1.4 | 5.3 |
| Mike Moustakas | 3B | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 2 | +2.7 | +1.4 | 2.5 |
| Víctor Caratini | C | MIL | Trade | 2022 | 2 | +2.6 | +1.3 | 6.2 |
| Keston Hiura | 1B/2B | MIL | Draft | 2017 | 3 | +2.6 | +0.9 | – |
| Jose Iglesias | SS | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +2.5 | +2.5 | 6.6 |
| Jhoulys Chacín | P | MIL | Free agency | 2017 | 2 | +2.4 | +1.2 | 8.5 |
| Hoby Milner | P | MIL | Free agency | 2020 | 3 | +2.4 | +0.8 | 3.2 |
| Hunter Renfroe | OF | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +2.4 | +2.4 | 10.5 |
| Wade Miley | P | MIL | Free agency | 2018 | 2 | +2.3 | +1.1 | 4.7 |
| Chris Carter | 1B/DH | MIL | Free agency | 2016 | 1 | +2.2 | +2.2 | 0.4 |
| Eric Lauer | P | MIL | Trade | 2019 | 2 | +2.1 | +1.0 | 11.5 |
| Luis Severino | P | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +2.1 | +2.1 | 5.6 |
| Jeremy Jeffress | P | MIL | Trade | 2017 | 7 | +2.0 | +0.3 | – |
| Joel Payamps | P | MIL | Trade | 2022 | 2 | +1.7 | +0.9 | 2.2 |
| Carson Benge | OF | NYM | Draft | 2026 | 1 | +1.7 | +1.7 | – |
| Reed Garrett | P | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 2 | +1.7 | +0.8 | 2.4 |
| Brad Boxberger | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | 2 | +1.6 | +0.8 | 4.6 |
| Colin Rea | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | 2 | +1.5 | +0.7 | 1.4 |
| Christian Scott | P | NYM | Draft | 2024 | 2 | +1.5 | +0.8 | – |
| Aaron Hill | 2B | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 1 | +1.5 | +1.5 | 0.3 |
| Tyrone Taylor | OF | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 2 | +1.5 | +0.8 | 2.7 |
| Brooks Raley | P | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | 4 | +1.4 | +0.4 | 0.5 |
| Brett Anderson | P | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 2 | +1.3 | +0.7 | 6.9 |
| Gio Gonzalez | P | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 2 | +1.2 | +0.6 | 1.8 |
| Harrison Bader | OF | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +1.2 | +1.2 | 3.2 |
| Freddy Peralta | P | NYM | Trade | 2026 | 1 | +1.2 | +1.2 | 0.6 |
| Luke Weaver | P | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +1.1 | +1.1 | 0.5 |
| Erik Kratz | C | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +1.1 | +1.1 | 3.8 |
| Huascar Brazobán | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 2 | +1.1 | +0.5 | 1.9 |
| Dedniel Núñez | P | NYM | Draft | 2024 | 2 | +1.0 | +0.5 | – |
| Neil Walker | 2B | MIL | Trade | 2017 | 1 | +1.0 | +1.0 | 3.0 |
| Jordan Lyles | P | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 2 | +1.0 | +0.5 | 1.2 |
| Jedd Gyorko | 2B/3B | MIL | Free agency | 2020 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 10.6 |
| Griffin Canning | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 4.9 |
| Robert Gasser | P | MIL | Trade | 2022 | 2 | +0.8 | +0.4 | – |
| Bo Bichette | SS | NYM | Free agency | 2026 | 1 | +0.8 | +0.8 | 0.4 |
| Eric Sogard | 2B | MIL | Free agency | 2016 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 4.6 |
| Eduardo Escobar | 3B | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 3.7 |
| Drew Pomeranz | P | MIL | Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 2.1 |
| Oliver Drake | P | MIL | Trade | 2017 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.4 | 1.6 |
| Rowdy Tellez | 1B | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.3 | 1.6 |
| Phil Maton | P | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 1.8 |
| Jonathan Davis | OF | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 2.5 |
| Andrew McCutchen | OF | MIL | Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 2.6 |
| Owen Miller | 1B/2B | MIL | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 1.7 |
| Jacob Nottingham | C | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 4 | +0.6 | +0.2 | – |
| J. D. Martinez | DH/OF | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 1.6 |
| A. J. Minter | P | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | 2 | +0.6 | +0.3 | 1.6 |
| Brandon Sproat | P | NYM | Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | – |
| Devin Williams | P | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 0.3 |
| Jared Young | 1B/DH | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 0.3 |
| Dan Vogelbach | 1B/DH | MIL | Trade | 2020 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 7.6 |
| Ben Gamel | OF | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 2 | +0.5 | +0.3 | 1.4 |
| Jared Hughes | P | MIL | Free agency | 2017 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 1.4 |
| Josh Lindblom | P | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 10.1 |
| Anthony Swarzak | P | MIL | Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 1.5 |
| Joakim Soria | P | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 1.6 |
| Peter Strzelecki | P | MIL | Draft | 2022 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | – |
| Danny Young | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | 0.4 |
| Stephen Vogt | C | MIL | Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 1.2 |
| Tyler Rogers | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 2.0 |
| Blaine Boyer | P | MIL | Free agency | 2016 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.1 |
| Pablo Reyes | OF | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.6 |
| Cory Spangenberg | 2B/3B | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.9 |
| Carlos Torres | P | MIL | Free agency | 2016 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.1 |
| Curtis Granderson | OF | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.1 |
| David Phelps | P | MIL | Trade | 2020 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 3.9 |
| Jhan Mariñez | P | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.1 |
| Hunter Strickland | P | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.9 |
| Kirk Nieuwenhuis | OF | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.1 |
| José Castillo | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.4 |
| Paul Blackburn | P | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 2 | +0.3 | +0.1 | 0.4 |
| Max Kranick | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.5 |
| Rico Garcia | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.5 |
| Jake Cousins | P | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 2 | +0.2 | +0.1 | – |
| Dan Jennings | P | MIL | Free agency | 2018 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.9 |
| Luke Maile | C | MIL | Free agency | 2020 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 1.1 |
| Justin Hagenman | P | NYM | Rule 5 | 2025 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – |
| Gregory Soto | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 1.1 |
| Kevin Herget | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.8 |
| Cedric Mullins | OF | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.8 |
| Mario Feliciano | C | MIL | Draft | 2016 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.0 | – |
| Derek Fisher | OF | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.3 |
| Thomas Pannone | P | MIL | Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 |
| Chris Devenski | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.8 |
| Daniel Duarte | P | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 |
| MJ Melendez | OF | NYM | Free agency | 2026 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 |
| Ryne Stanek | P | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.3 |
| Jonah Tong | P | NYM | Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Xavier Cedeño | P | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.5 |
| Tommy Milone | P | MIL | Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.3 |
| Tyler Austin | 1B | MIL | Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 |
| Ben Rowen | P | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 |
| Mike Brosseau | 3B | MIL | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 2.6 |
| Trevor Richards | P | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.7 |
| Luis García | P | NYM | Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 |
| Yohan Ramírez | P | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 |
| Luis Robert | OF | NYM | Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Tyler Zuber | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.3 |
| John Axford | P | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 3 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – |
| Phil Bickford | P | MIL | Trade | 2016 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Nick Franklin | 2B | MIL | Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Blaine Hardy | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.2 |
| Alex Jackson | C | MIL | Trade | 2022 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Mark Mathias | 2B/OF | MIL | Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Jake Petricka | P | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Drew Rasmussen | P | MIL | Draft | 2018 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – |
| Corey Ray | OF | MIL | Draft | 2016 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Pedro Severino | C | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.2 |
| Justin Topa | P | MIL | Trade | 2020 | 2 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Patrick Weigel | P | MIL | Trade | 2021 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Mike Zagurski | P | MIL | Free agency | 2017 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Eddy Alvarez | 2B/3B | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Xzavion Curry | P | NYM | Free agency | 2026 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Carl Edwards | P | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Justin Garza | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joey Gerber | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dom Hamel | P | NYM | Draft | 2025 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Frankie Montas | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Guillo Zuñiga | P | NYM | Free agency | 2026 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ryan Weber | P | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Alec Asher | P | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Ji Man Choi | 1B | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Donnie Hart | P | MIL | Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Hudson | C | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tyler Jay | P | NYM | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Luke Barker | P | MIL | Draft | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Quintin Berry | OF | MIL | Free agency | 2017 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Lewis Brinson | OF | MIL | Trade | 2016 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Alex Claudio | P | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | 2 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 1.1 |
| Trevor Gott | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Deolis Guerra | P | MIL | Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Jandel Gustave | P | MIL | Trade | 2021 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Ryon Healy | 1B/3B | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Jay Jackson | P | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| J. C. Mejía | P | MIL | Trade | 2021 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.0 |
| Connor Sadzeck | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Ethan Small | P | MIL | Draft | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Aaron Wilkerson | P | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | – |
| Jordan Zimmermann | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Eric Orze | P | NYM | Draft | 2024 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Jonathan Pintaro | P | NYM | Draft | 2025 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Hayden Senger | C | NYM | Draft | 2025 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | – |
| Julio Teherán | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Brandon Waddell | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Jesse Winker | OF | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.1 |
| Rob Scahill | P | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.0 |
| Austin Warren | P | NYM | Trade | 2025 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.3 |
| Alec Bettinger | P | MIL | Draft | 2017 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| J. P. Feyereisen | P | MIL | Trade | 2019 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | – |
| Justin Grimm | P | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| J. J. Hoover | P | MIL | Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Logan Morrison | 1B/OF | MIL | Free agency | 2020 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Luis Perdomo | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Bobby Wahl | P | MIL | Trade | 2019 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Andrew Susac | C | MIL | Trade | 2016 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | 0.0 |
| Tyler Saladino | 3B/SS | MIL | Trade | 2018 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | 0.3 |
| Jason Alexander | P | MIL | Draft | 2022 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Zack Godley | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Boone Logan | P | MIL | Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Ángel Perdomo | P | MIL | Trade | 2020 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Alex Wilson | P | MIL | Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Blade Tidwell | P | NYM | Draft | 2025 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Ray Black | P | MIL | Trade | 2020 | 1 | -0.3 | -0.3 | 0.0 |
| Eric Yardley | P | MIL | Trade | 2020 | 1 | -0.3 | -0.3 | 1.5 |
| Daniel Robertson | 2B/3B/SS | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Miguel Sánchez | P | MIL | Intl FA | 2016 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| José Siri | OF | NYM | Trade | 2024 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Trevor Kelley | P | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Ty Adcock | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Alex Carrillo | P | NYM | Draft | 2025 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Jorge Polanco | 2B/SS | NYM | Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.6 | – | – |
| Matt Bush | P | MIL | Trade | 2022 | – | -0.7 | – | – |
| Jesse Winker | OF | MIL | Trade | 2022 | – | -0.8 | – | – |
| Jake Diekman | P | NYM | Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.8 | – | – |
| Matt Albers | P | MIL | Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.9 | – | – |
| Jackie Bradley | OF | MIL | Free agency | 2021 | – | -1.7 | – | – |
WAB = wins above what the team's payroll predicted (resource-controlled). WAR surplus = era-neutral value (WAR minus payroll in win-equivalents). Roster surplus $M = dollar value of WAR over cost. Build channels (realized fWAR): HG = home-grown via amateur draft / international signing; Trade = acquired minus surrendered (incl. purchases/waivers); FA = signed minus walked; R5 = Rule-5 / minor-league-draft pickups. Credit follows the acquisition year — home-grown to the regime at the player's draft/signing (not whoever was in the chair when he peaked), trade/FA/R5 to the GM who made the move. Players acquired as prospects before debuting (e.g. Smoltz, Bagwell; Rule-5 picks like Uggla) are counted as trade/R5, not home-grown. All are franchise-level outcomes during the stint, not solely attributable to one executive.