Cubs hire Craig Counsell: Four reasons why this was one of most shocking managerial moves in MLB history

The Chicago Cubs have employed Craig Counsell to be their subsequent supervisor in a surprising transfer, the staff introduced Monday. The determination by means of the extremely coveted Counsell approach he will be leaving the Milwaukee Brewers after 9 seasons on the helm. It additionally approach Counsell handed up the danger to regulate the New York Mets (who employed Carlos Mendoza for his or her opening on Monday) and that he’ll change Cubs supervisor David Ross. 

Counsell’s contract with the Brewers expired on the finish of the 2023 season, which resulted in his changing into one of the most hotly pursued managers in contemporary reminiscence. He was closely connected to the Mets, incumbent Brewers and Cleveland Guardians. His transfer to the Cubs is a shocker. Chicago has given Counsell a five-year contract price greater than $40 million, in step with The Athletic, making him the highest-paid supervisor in MLB.

Counsell, a 53-year-old Wisconsin local, departs Milwaukee because the most a hit supervisor in franchise history. His 707 wins leads all Brewers managers, and he additionally tops the franchise listing for most occupation video games over .500 at 82. He’s the longest-serving supervisor in Brewers history, and over that span he registered a successful proportion of .531 regardless of very restricted payroll funding from membership possession. As smartly, Counsell has guided the Brewers to a few department titles and 5 postseason appearances. This previous season, the Brewers beneath Counsell went 92-70 and completed atop the National League Central. Counsell’s even-keeled character, tactical acumen, and sustained document of good fortune have made him one of the most very popular managers in baseball lately. 

For a host of reasons, Counsell’s determination qualifies as a real shocker. Let’s take a more in-depth glance as why this is. 

1. Counsell was presumed to be headed to the Mets

Counsell’s contract with the Brewers expired after this previous season. Coming off a department identify in 2023 and with just about a decade of good fortune in Milwaukee regardless of restricted payrolls, Counsell was now not most effective the most coveted supervisor to be had but in addition the most sought-after dugout chief in some reminiscence. His tactical experience, measured demeanor, and capability for successful beneath tricky cases made him such. Given the attraction of the Mets’ emptiness – that means, most commonly, proprietor Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend and dedication to successful – he gave the impression a herbal are compatible. 

What made a Counsell-Mets pairing even much more likely is Cohen’s contemporary hiring of David Stearns to be the membership’s president of baseball operations. Stearns was the architect of the hot a hit Brewers groups, and he himself employed Counsell to regulate the membership. Those shared Milwaukee roots made Counsell the heavy favourite to visit Queens. That, of direction, is not what came about. Presumably Counsell may’ve had the Mets activity if he’d sought after it, so as an alternative Stearns seemed throughout the city to tab Yankees bench trainer Carlos Mendoza because the staff’s new skipper. 

2. Counsell wasn’t even reported to be at the Cubs’ radar

The Counsell hypothesis had his touchdown in one of 3 jobs. The Brewers reportedly had an be offering at the desk to make him the highest-paid supervisor in MLB, so a go back to Milwaukee gave the impression to be an actual chance. As simply famous, the Mets checked most likely much more bins for Counsell – the Stearns connection plus, in distinction to Milwaukee, an proprietor prepared to take a position in participant payroll. Also, Counsell interviewed for the Cleveland Guardians activity, which in the end went to Stephen Vogt. Nowhere alongside the best way, even though, have been the Cubs discussed by means of any individual of be aware as being a imaginable vacation spot for Counsell. There’s an excellent explanation why for that. 

3. The Cubs voiced improve for David Ross

Ross in his first season skippered the Cubs to the playoffs in the abbreviated and COVID-compromised 2020 marketing campaign. Then because the membership leaned right into a rebuild, Ross and the Cubs persisted shedding seasons in 2021 and 2022, albeit to not embarrassing extremes. Then this previous season, the staff took a step ahead with an 83-79 mark and a plus-96 run differential that noticed them in rivalry for a playoff spot till the overall days of the season. After the season concluded, lead owner Tom Ricketts had this to say about his manager: 

“I think Rossy did a great job. He creates a great clubhouse culture, the players love playing for him. He keeps a steady, balanced approach game in and game out, that you need over the course of 162 games.”

Given that Ross was beneath contract for 2024 with a membership choice for 2025, it is truthful to learn that as a vote of self belief. Still and but, Ross misplaced the activity that in an goal sense he most certainly did not need to lose. Not strangely, the Counsell hire seems to be a pivot that got here in combination in haste and most certainly hastily: 

For Cubs enthusiasts and observers, this will without a doubt convey again reminiscences of Rick Renteria, who was strangely disregarded in prefer of Joe Maddon, who quickly after led the Cubs to the drought-busting World Series identify of 2016. 

4. Counsell is certain for a department rival after 9 years in Milwaukee

Counsell is a Wisconsin local who nonetheless lives in the state, so in many ways it isn’t sudden that, if he have been to transport, he’d achieve this simply 90 mins or so down I-94. Still, it is a bit jarring to peer Counsell make the bounce throughout the NL Central and to the Brewers’ greatest rival (this isn’t to indicate the Brewers are the Cubs’ greatest rival). 

While the Cubs are extra prepared spenders than the Brewers beneath Mark Attanasio, the Ricketts do not support the roster in line with their huge revenues. Will that proceed? Or was Counsell given assurances that the Cubs will spend just like the monetary powerhouses they’re? Going to a staff much less vulnerable to take a position in the on-field product than Cohen and the Mets are is any other wonder. One may see Counsell’s spurning all that to stay together with his home-state staff he’d been with for just about a decade, however the Cubs? All of this makes the wonder selection much more compelling. 

All this intrigue over a trifling supervisor? The 2023-24 offseason, it says right here, is off to a correct get started.