Craig Counsell is the winningest manager in Milwaukee Brewers history. With his contract set to expire, there have been questions surrounding his future in Milwaukee. For months, many have wondered if he would entertain the idea of interviewing for (and taking) the New York Mets managerial opening now that David Stearns is their President of Baseball Operations.
Also for months, the Brewers have held fast to the notion that they would not allow other teams to interview Counsell until after his contract expired. Well, they have changed their mind, and have granted the Mets permission to interview Counsell.
The New York Mets Have Permission to Interview Milwaukee Brewers Manager Craig Counsell
Andy Martino, author of the book Cheated and who covers both the Yankees and Mets, reported on social media that Milwaukee has granted New York permission to interview Counsell, despite the fact that his contract has not yet expired:
The Mets have received permission to interview Craig Counsell for the manager job, according to league sources. Brewers had initially indicated they would not grant it, and Counsell’s contract would have to expire. They have changed course, and Mets will be interviewing him soon.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) October 25, 2023
Martino also adds that the Mets will interview other candidates besides Counsell, and that Counsell himself is planning on exploring other opportunities around Major League Baseball, including the possibility of returning as manager of the Brewers.
Why Craig Counsell and the Milwaukee Brewers Did Not Agree to an Extension
As many are aware, Counsell has college-age children that are playing baseball themselves. Managing the Brewers has cost him the opportunity to watch his kids play sports throughout high school. While he is not closing the door on managing the Brewers (or the Mets, apparently), he needs to decide if returning to the dugout will be worth missing more games that his kids play.
There is also a question of money. It is also well-known around baseball that Counsell wants to set a new standard in the way managers are paid. While no salary demands have been officially revealed, it is generally accepted that Counsell would want to be paid $7-8 million per year as a manager.
Craig Counsell’s Legacy with the Milwaukee Brewers
There is no denying the fact that Counsell has overseen the most successful period of baseball in franchise history. Ever since he was hired as manager in 2015, the Brewers have made the postseason five times, each of their appearances coming in the last six season. They were also just a game out of playoff contention in 2017.
Under his guidance, Christian Yelich won a NL MVP Award and Corbin Burnes took home a NL Cy Young Award. Major League Baseball had to change the rule of how many batters a pitcher must face before being taken out of the game because of Counsell’s tactics in the 2018 NLCS when he pulled starter Wade Miley after just one batter.
While Milwaukee has failed to reach a World Series, and while many fans have become frustrated with Counsell’s style of managing, there is little doubt that he was gotten the most out of the roster he has been given. Year in and year out, he has led the Brewers to better records than the so-called experts predicted them to have.
If this is the end of his run in Milwaukee, it will be a terrible loss for the organization.
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