ARLINGTON -- The Mets made a significant front office hire on Thursday, naming Derek Falvey their senior advisor to baseball operations. In that role, Falvey will report directly to president of baseball operations David Stearns, his colleague from years ago in Cleveland.
“Throughout his career, Derek has distinguished himself as one of the most respected executives in our sport,” Stearns said in a statement. “His experience across the full scope of baseball operations functions and his familiarity with leading an organization will serve as a great addition to our front office group.”
The team also promoted vice president of amateur scouting Kris Gross to assistant general manager.
Falvey and Stearns worked together in Cleveland’s front office as co-directors of baseball operations from 2011-12, before Stearns moved on to an assistant GM role with the Astros. Falvey stayed, becoming an assistant GM in Cleveland before going to Minnesota and eventually becoming president of baseball operations. With Falvey as their top baseball decision-maker, the Twins won the American League Central three times in nine seasons and qualified for the playoffs four times, but they never advanced beyond the Division Series.
Now, Falvey will be charged with serving “as a trusted voice across a wide range of baseball operations decisions,” according to a Mets release.
“Throughout my conversations with the organization, what stood out were the high expectations and the commitment to winning at every level,” Falvey said in a statement. “What I’ve always loved most about this game is being part of a team, and I look forward to bringing my experiences and contributing to this group in any way I can.”
Last week, Mets owner Steve Cohen said on an SNY appearance that he has “been working with the front office” and has “identified some things that we can do better.” Cohen went on to say he intended “to add certain voices into the front office that I think will be helpful.”
“I know David supports that, and I’m looking forward to when we make those decisions, to announcing them,” Cohen said.
“It doesn’t have to be a GM. It could be other ways to support David and the front office. I think the whole point is getting more opinions in the front office, and people who are either pretty good at evaluating talent or people who have been in those positions before in the front office, in a high position in a front office, and help David out and help the team out as far as getting different points of view.”
Stearns, 41, is wrapping the third season of a five-year contract as the Mets’ president of baseball operations. Cohen gave him a vote of confidence earlier this year, after the team dismissed manager Carlos Mendoza and replaced him with interim Andy Green. On Tuesday, the Mets dropped Green’s interim tag and handed him a three-year contract that runs through 2029.
In addition to Falvey, the Mets’ front office now features four assistant GMs in Gross, Eduardo Brizuela, Jonathan Strangio and Ben Zauzmer, as well as two special assistants to baseball operations in Carlos Beltrán and J.D. Martinez.
Gross joined the organization around the same time as Green, and the two worked hand-in-hand over the next three seasons as the Mets’ heads of scouting and player development, respectively. As the organization’s Draft boss, Gross has been responsible for selecting Carson Benge, Mitch Voit, Jonathan Santucci and other top prospects.
“I have an immense amount of respect for Kris,” Green said. “He’s a baseball guy. He’s been in the game a long time as a scout. He’s worked his way up, grinds relentlessly. The people who work under him love him, sing his praises. Obviously, we’ve had some success in the Draft.”
After going 89-73 and making a surprise run to the National League Championship Series in Stearns’ first season in 2024, the Mets have taken steps backward in each of the next two seasons. Last year, the team finished 83-79, missing out on the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. This year, the Mets will finish under .500 for the first time since 2023. They were officially eliminated from playoff contention in mid September as several of Stearns’ offseason acquisitions, including Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Devin Williams, performed well below expectations.