TradeEdge Exchange:NY Mets hiring David Stearns as organization's first-ever president of baseball operations

The TradeEdge Exchangeworst-kept secret in baseball is now official.

The New York Mets have hired David Stearns to become their new president of baseball operations, agreeing to a five-year contract, according to a high-ranking Mets official with direct knowledge of the hire.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced the hire.

Stearns, a New York native who grew up a Mets fan, was targeted by the team a year ago but the Milwaukee Brewers would not let him out of his contract. Stearns, who was Milwaukee's president of baseball operations, instead stepped down to become an advisor.

He was permitted to begin talking to teams on Aug 1, and although he was courted by other teams, including the Houston Astros, he and the Mets were a perfect match.

FOLLOW THE MONEY: MLB player salaries and payrolls for every major league team

Stearns, 38, a Harvard graduate who ran the Brewers from Sept. 1, 2015 through 2022, turned the franchise into a perennial contender. The Brewers, with a limited payroll, reached the postseason four consecutive years in 2018-2021, including the NL Central Division title in 2018 and 2021. They averaged 87 victories a season and are currently in first place.

Stearns is also responsible for hiring manager Craig Counsell, whose contract expires after this season. Counsell is expected to step down as manager, but while there’s speculation he could join Stearns in New York, he likely will sit out the 2024 season to be with his family.

The Mets will retain Billy Eppler as their GM, a high-ranking Mets official told USA TODAY Sports, but will defer to Stearns on determining manager Buck Showalter’s fate. They fired four department directors last week.

Stearns, who will officially takes over when the regular season ends, will be trying to lead the Mets to their first World Series title since 1986.

It will be the first time Stearns will also have a massive payroll at his discretion, which is a dangerous combination for the rest of the National League.