The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that David Stearns is stepping down as president of baseball operations and will remain in an advisory role to ownership and baseball operations. Matt Arnold, who has served as senior vice president and general manager of the Brewers since 2020, will move into the lead role overseeing baseball operations.

Stearns joined the organization in October of 2015 as general manager and was named president of baseball operations prior to the 2019 season. 

“This is not an easy decision for me and is something I have been wrestling with for a long time,” said Stearns. “Mark Attanasio and I have had an open dialogue and we both knew this day could 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. That is certainly the case today."

“I’m very grateful to Mark and all of our staff for their support and efforts throughout my tenure with the Brewers,” Stearns continued. “Matt and I both arrived in 2015 and he is more than ready for this next opportunity. I am committed to serving as a resource to Matt as he sees fit as the organization moves through this transition.”

Under Stearns and Arnold, the Brewers have qualified for the postseason in four of the last five seasons with the 2022 team finishing one game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the final Wild Card spot. In addition, the Brewers have the third most wins in the National League (481) over the last six years, trailing only Los Angeles and Atlanta.

“Over the last seven years, David has not only led our baseball operations at a high level, but he has also become a good friend,” said Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio. “Our discussions about his long-term plans have always been open and candid, and while I am disappointed that David is stepping down, I am grateful to David and know he has a very bright future.”

“David’s impact on the organization has been transformational,” Attanasio continued. “He has created a process that has yielded highly competitive teams consistently and raised expectations to a new level both internally and with our fans. While we will miss David, I am excited for the opportunity this provides Matt. Matt is one of the brightest executives in the game. He brings a diverse set of experiences and has been integral to everything we have done as an organization during his time here.” 

Arnold joined the Brewers in October of 2015 as assistant general manager before being promoted to his current position on November 19, 2020. 

“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,” said Arnold. “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,” Arnold continued. “I embrace the opportunity to continue working toward our goal – winning a World Series.” 

Arnold has 22 seasons of professional baseball experience in a variety of roles, including time with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2000), Texas Rangers (2002), Cincinnati Reds (2003-06) and Tampa Bay Rays (2007-15).