In a completely different market, Stearns' ability to execute opportunistic trades still shines through.
The largest free agent contract that David Stearns ever agreed to when he was the President of Baseball Operations for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2015 to October of 2022 was a five-year, $80 million free agent contract to Lorenzo Cain ahead of the 2018 season. On Sunday evening, Stearns, now heading the New York Mets' front office, swapped five years of a $162 million contract for three years of a $175 million contract in order to make room for a free agent who will command a salary north of $400 million this offseason.