Matt Arnold Promoted To President Of Baseball Operations

[Brock Beauchamp]

Matt Arnold has been promoted to President of Baseball Operations; he will continue to oversee baseball operations, a responsibility he has held since October 2022 after the departure of David Stearns, who also held the PoBO title. Arnold originally joined Milwaukee in October 2015 as vice president and assistant general manager, advanced to senior vice president and assistant general manager in June 2019, and was promoted to senior vice president and general manager in November 2020. 

During his tenure in Milwaukee, the club has qualified for the postseason seven times and secured five National League Central Division championships in 2018, 2021, and 2023 through 2025. The team has won at least 92 games in each of the last three seasons, including a franchise-record 97 victories in 2025. 

Arnold was named MLB Executive of the Year for 2024 in voting by executives from all 30 clubs. He also received Executive of the Year honors from The Sporting News in 2024 and 2025 and from Baseball America in 2024. 

Before joining the Brewers, Arnold spent nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2007 to 2015, most recently as director of player personnel. Earlier in his career, Arnold held roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2000, the Texas Rangers in 2002, and the Cincinnati Reds from 2003 to 2006. He has 25 seasons of professional baseball experience.

David Stearns once held the position of both PoBO and General Manager, as Arnold does now. Will Arnold hire a new General Manager to work under him, just as he was promoted to that title in 2020 under Stearns?

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[SoCalBrewfan]

I have never had a good sense of who was the next in line after Arnold. Is it Mueller? I think there are multiple Assistant GMs and special assistants and advisors, but is there an heir apparent here? Arnold has had success that you'd think he's be on some teams' radars.

Or is this move an effort to make room to promote someone from within and keep them from being poached by another org, since they can deny permission if a new job is not a promotion?

[Brock Beauchamp]

5 minutes ago, SoCalBrewfan said:

I have never had a good sense of who was the next in line after Arnold. Is it Mueller? I think there are multiple Assistant GMs and special assistants and advisors, but is there an heir apparent here? Arnold has had success that you'd think he's be on some teams' radars.

Or is this move an effort to make room to promote someone from within and keep them from being poached by another org, since they can deny permission if a new job is not a promotion?

I think your second paragraph is probably accurate. Not a lot changes for Arnold, other than maybe he's getting a raise. And while Stearns made a lateral move to the Mets, it's pretty rare in baseball for that to happen, and Arnold is likely the head of the Brewers for as long as they'll have him.

But this does add protection for some of the lower front office executives, some of them might get title bumps as people are promoted.

[SF70]

4 minutes ago, SoCalBrewfan said:

I have never had a good sense of who was the next in line after Arnold. Is it Mueller? I think there are multiple Assistant GMs and special assistants and advisors, but is there an heir apparent here? Arnold has had success that you'd think he's be on some teams' radars.

Or is this move an effort to make room to promote someone from within and keep them from being poached by another org, since they can deny permission if a new job is not a promotion?

I’m hoping the assistant GM Attanasio wants to retain the most gets the GM job.

Matt Kleine-Karl Mueller-Will Hudgins are the 3 assistant GM’s. Been hearing Kleine’s name mentioned as being considered for GM openings elsewhere so maybe he’s next in line.

Matt Klentak is another. Former GM of the Phillies, who’s been helping with the international department the last 2-3 years.

This is just fantastic news.

What a time to be a Brewers fan.

[Trax]

Arnold has done a superb job with limited resources.   Very well deserved. 

[owbc]

Heavily promoting from within is a smart business strategy from Attanasio that has served us well as a defense from the high attrition rates that would be expected when the bigger markets come calling for our FO talent. 

[patrickgpe]

I do wonder if this promotion came with a contract extension, if not he is up after 2026 anyway. I wouldn't be surprised that after the 2026 (if there is a 2027) season, he is the POBO only and a new GM is named (assuming he doesn't leave obviously). 

[patrickgpe]

18 hours ago, owbc said:

Heavily promoting from within is a smart business strategy from Attanasio that has served us well as a defense from the high attrition rates that would be expected when the bigger markets come calling for our FO talent. 

Mark A has done a wonderful job to bring in former GM's under Arnold as obvious replacements if needed. This would make a succession plan easier as they would learn the "Brewer way"