It seems that David Stearns and his wife just might have celebrated their anniversary a little differently on Wednesday night.
During this time, Brewers’ president Matt Arnold mentioned that he and a friend finalized a major trade for Freddy Peralta on the same day that it was Arnold’s wedding anniversary with Whitney Ann Lee, who is married to the Mets’ director of baseball operations.
“He really knows the players well. We’ve collaborated closely over the years, and he obviously has a strong bond with him,” Arnold remarked. “Wednesday was his anniversary, and I attended his wedding. We’ve known each other for a long time. So, there’s a chance I might have spoiled his anniversary dinner. He’s a good friend, and I genuinely hope this trade benefits both sides.”
Balancing life in baseball can be tricky—long hours and lengthy seasons can make personal milestones feel secondary.
Stearns and Lee tied the knot in 2017, back when he was the general manager for the Brewers. They have at least one child together; their daughter Nora was born in 2018.
A fair amount of progress appears to have been made by Arnold and Stearns to get this deal finalized on Wednesday night.
The Mets had a pressing need for a top-tier pitcher, prompting them to bring in Peralta, who had an impressive season last year, starting 33 games and achieving a career-best 2.70 ERA.
Peralta has one remaining year on his contract, which gives the Mets a chance to capitalize on Milwaukee’s smaller-market situation, making it harder for Peralta to secure a lucrative extension.
That said, having Peralta on the roster certainly isn’t budget-friendly.
The Mets reached agreements to acquire infielder Jett Williams, listed as No. 30 by MLB.com, and starting pitcher Brandon Sproat, who holds the No. 81 spot by Baseball America.
Additionally, Milwaukee also traded swingman Tobias Myers to the Mets.
“The reality is that Freddy Peralta has just one year left on his contract, becoming a free agent at the season’s end. That’s always going to present some challenges for us,” Arnold explained. “A tough choice was necessary. But bringing in two players we appreciate and having them part of this group for this season and future felt like the right move for the Brewers.”
For the Mets, this trade seems to conclude a busy offseason defined by a whirlwind January, which involved players like Bo Bichette and Luis Robert Jr., along with Peralta.
“Acquiring Freddy adds a reliable starter to lead our rotation,” Stearns stated. “Throughout the offseason, we aimed to enhance our rotation with another top-level pitcher, and we’re excited to welcome Freddie to the Mets.”
