Importing the Blueprint: Why the Mets are Bringing in Derek Falvey
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By adding a former Twins chief to the executive ranks, Steve Cohen is signaling a shift toward a more diversified decision-making model to support David Stearns.
The New York Mets are currently moving toward hiring Derek Falvey for a front-office position, as MLB first reported. While Falvey previously served as the president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins, sources familiar with the team's thinking indicate he will not be filling a general manager role under current president of baseball operations David Stearns. Instead, Falvey will occupy a different executive capacity.
This move represents a calculated attempt by owner Steve Cohen to evolve the team's internal architecture. Speaking on an SNY appearance, Cohen admitted he has been collaborating with the front office to identify areas for improvement. Cohen stated his intention to integrate "certain voices" into the organization to provide helpful perspectives, noting that these additions do not necessarily need to be GMs, but rather individuals who have held high-level front-office positions and possess strong talent evaluation skills.
The connection between Falvey and Stearns is deep-rooted. MLB reports that the two served as co-directors of baseball operations in Cleveland from 2011 to 2012. Following that period, Stearns transitioned to an assistant GM role with the Houston Astros, while Falvey remained in Cleveland as an assistant GM before eventually ascending to the top decision-making role in Minnesota.
The urgency for this structural shift comes amid a period of regression. After a successful 2024 campaign where the Mets went 89-73 and reached the National League Championship Series, Stearns' tenure has seen a downward trend. The team finished 83-79 last year, missing the postseason on the final day of the season. This year, the Mets were knocked out of playoff contention in early September and will finish with a sub-.500 record for the first time since 2023. MLB notes that several of Stearns' offseason acquisitions—specifically Devin Williams, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco—performed significantly below expectations.
As it stands, the Mets' executive structure includes special assistants to baseball operations J.D. Martinez and Carlos Beltrán, as well as three assistant GMs: Ben Zauzmer, Jonathan Strangio, and Eduardo Brizuela. By adding Falvey, Cohen is effectively expanding the brain trust available to Stearns, who is currently wrapping the third season of a five-year contract.
While Cohen has previously expressed confidence in Stearns—particularly following the decision to replace manager Carlos Mendoza with Andy Green, who recently signed a three-year contract through 2029—the addition of Falvey suggests that the owner believes the current system requires more diverse points of view to reverse the team's recent slide.