Brewers GM David Stearns gets promotion, contract extension
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers have promoted general manager David Stearns, adding president of baseball operations to his title and giving him a contract extension after the team came within one win of the World Series.
The Brewers also elevated chief operating officer Rick Schlesinger to president of business operations and boosted his contract. The club announced the moves Tuesday without detailing the length of the extensions.
Stearns joined the Brewers in September 2015, hired at 30 as the youngest GM in the majors. The team finished out a 68-94 season, and has increased its victory total each year under his leadership.
The Brewers went 96-67 last season, including a win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in an NL Central tiebreaker, and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Milwaukee swept Colorado in the NL Division Series, then lost Game 7 of the NL Championship Series at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Stearns traded for eventual NL MVP Christian Yelich before the season and also signed star outfielder Lorenzo Cain to a long-term deal.
Schlesinger is going into his 17th season with the Brewers. He is overseeing the $60 million-plus renovation of the team's spring training complex in Arizona.
