Mets Officially Add Derek Falvey as Senior Advisor Amid Scouting Reforms

Key points

• Derek Falvey was officially announced as the Mets' senior advisor of baseball operations on September 24, 2026, following reports from The Athletic.
• Kris Gross was promoted from vice president of amateur and international scouting to assistant general manager of scouting, expanding his role to include major league transactions.
• Falvey previously served as president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins from 2019 until his departure in January 2026.
• Falvey and current Mets president David Stearns previously worked together as co-directors of baseball operations in Cleveland from 2011 to 2012.
• Owner Steve Cohen stated the goal was to add 'certain voices' to the front office to support decision-making, a move Stearns publicly endorsed.
• The Mets released a production titled 'Searching For Tomorrow' featuring Gross and other scouts, highlighting the organization's focus on amateur talent acquisition.

Background

The Mets faced significant criticism this season after being eliminated from the playoffs and the controversial decision to let free agent Pete Alonso leave without an offer, which sparked fan outrage and 'Fire Stearns' chants. Previous coverage noted that the front office was heavily reliant on analytics, with limited traditional scouting resources. This hiring comes after a tumultuous period for the Twins, where Falvey left amid organizational restructuring and a failed sale attempt, and follows Cohen's earlier comments about needing diverse perspectives to improve the team's trajectory.

How outlets are covering it

Jon Heyman of the New York Post argues that while Falvey is a good addition, the Mets still lack sufficient traditional scouts and experienced voices to counterbalance their analytics-heavy culture, specifically citing the non-renewal of veteran scout Roy Smith. Amazin' Avenue notes that the hiring fulfills Cohen's promise to add new voices but raises questions about whether Falvey, a former colleague of Stearns, will provide genuine dissent or simply reinforce the current leadership's approach. MLB Trade Rumors highlights Falvey's previous success with the Twins, including a 101-win season in 2019, but notes his departure was due to disagreements with executive leadership over the team's direction. Some fan comments on MLB Trade Rumors suggest skepticism about hiring a Stearns ally, while others view it as a necessary step to stabilize the front office.

Why it matters

The addition of Falvey and the promotion of Gross signal a strategic shift in the Mets' front office to address perceived gaps in traditional scouting and veteran judgment. This move is critical for the 2027 season as the team attempts to rebuild after a disappointing 2026 campaign and navigate the free agent market with a new balance of analytical and experiential input.

What to watch

The Mets will likely finalize their 2027 roster and free agent strategy with Falvey's input. The organization may continue to expand its scouting department to address the shortage of experienced scouts. The performance of the newly promoted Kris Gross in major league transactions will be a key metric for evaluating the success of these front office changes.