Former Brewers general manager David Stearns has been serving as an advisor to the team’s baseball operations this season. The New York Mets recently tapped him to be their president of baseball operations. With manager Craig Counsell’s contract expiring after this season, rumors have Stearns hiring him to be the Mets manager. After all, Stearns hired Counsell to manage the Brewers and was his boss for seven seasons. However, the rumors of Craig Counsell following David Stearns to New York are meaningless.
The Rumor Started Because Of David Stearns Leaving And Counsell’s Contract
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter resigning last season, David Stearns has been serving as an advisor to the Brewers baseball operations. Like Counsell, Stearns’s contract is also expiring after this season. Given that Stearns was Counsell’s boss for seven years and all that they accomplished, this naturally ties the two together. With the Mets having a disappointing season, many people are assuming they’ll fire Buck Showalter because Craig Counsell is available to be hired. However, just because Stearns got the Mets job doesn’t mean Counsell is going with him.
The reasons this rumor started were because of Counsell’s contract expiring and the extensive relationship between Counsell and Stearns. Craig Counsell is the only manager David Stearns ever hired in his seven seasons as GM. It was a very successful partnership between the two of them. In seven years, the Brewers went 615-555, won two division titles, and went to the postseason four times in five years. Prior to Stearns and Counsell arriving, the Milwaukee Brewers never experienced any success close to what they were able to achieve together.
Steve Cohen Gave Buck Showalter A Vote Of Confidence
Embed from Getty ImagesBack in June, Mets owner Steve Cohen gave current New York manager Buck Showalter a vote of confidence. He presumedly is committing to Showalter for at least 2024. Next season will be the final year of Showalter’s contract. The Mets haven’t given away any signs that Showalter’s job is in danger or that he’s on the hot seat. It was just over a season ago that he led the Mets to a 101-win year and a return to the postseason. Given what he’s accomplished, the Mets will probably let Showalter manage in a lame-duck year before deciding what to do.
Counsell Has The Baseball Life Everyone Wants
Embed from Getty ImagesCraig Counsell currently has the life most managers can only dream about. Counsell has the rare distinction of managing a team in the city he lives in. Most of the time an MLB manager has two homes. His sons are currently playing college baseball in the Big Ten and his daughter is about to start high school. Counsell also happens to be from the Milwaukee area, growing up, Craig’s father was Milwaukee’s director of community relations. Counsell grew up around the old County Stadium.
Counsell has a great thing going both managing the Brewers and in his personal life. The team has indicated it’ll do just about anything to have him return to the dugout. He also essentially has a “job for life” with the Milwaukee Brewers. I don’t see why he’d give that all up to manage somewhere else. The only reason Counsell may not manage the Brewers in 2024 is to spend more time with his family.
No Comparison To Joe Maddon’s Situation In 2015
Some people have been trying to compare Counsell’s situation to when Joe Maddon became available in 2015. The two situations are very different. Maddon opted out of his contract with the Rays. After initially promising that Rick Renteria would return, the Cubs changed course and fired him to hire Maddon. Showalter is a much more accomplished manager than Rick Renteria. Given that the front office that hired Showalter is still there, I don’t see them suddenly firing him to hire Counsell.
Counsell has been negotiating with the Brewers for a potential return. However, he recently decided to put the contract conversations on pause to focus on the rest of the season. Unlike Maddon, Counsell is a free agent after this season and isn’t opting out of his contract. The Brewers want him back in 2024 and are willing to do just about anything to keep Counsell around.
Counsell Would Be Crazy To Give Up What He Has Now
Embed from Getty ImagesCraig Counsell and David Stearns had a very successful run together. However, just because a person moves on doesn’t mean that somebody is able to follow them on their new adventure. Counsell has a dream situation both on and off the field. Counsell has great job security, he’s able to see his family a lot more than most big-league managers, and he’s able to live out his baseball life right in his hometown. Given everything Counsell has going for him, there is no truth to the rumor of him following David Stearns to the Mets. I’d be shocked if he opted to give up everything he has right now to manage another team. The only way Craig Counsell isn’t in the Brewers dugout in 2024 is to spend more time with his family.
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Craig Counsell is a former Major League Baseball player who had a successful career as an infielder , primarily with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was known for his versatility and defensive prowess. After retiring as a player, Counsell became the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and led the team to multiple playoff appearances during his tenure.