Craig Counsell's 2024 plans could spur Brewers-Mets bidding war
Share this @internewscast.com

Could a bidding war for star manager Craig Counsell’s services be brewing between the Mets and the Brewers, Counsell’s longtime, hometown team?

While there has been speculation Counsell will take a year off from managing, the latest word is that he’s expected to be in the dugout somewhere in 2024. That could give Counsell — the biggest managerial free agent in years — a chance to reunite with his old Milwaukee boss, David Stearns, in Queens.

Counsell’s Brewers team intends to start contract talks following the postseason after he deferred discussions in spring, but that could ultimately turn into a competition between them and the Mets.

Though others certainly could bid for arguably baseball’s best manager — the Brewers joined the Dodgers on Wednesday as the only teams with 86-plus wins the past six full seasons — the potential is clear for a battle pitting Counsell’s current team versus the Mets, a higher payroll and chance to rejoin Stearns, his partner in Milwaukee for seven seasons.


The Mets could be a part of a bidding war for Brewers' Craig Counsell.
The Mets could be a part of a bidding war for Brewers’ Craig Counsell.
Getty Images

Stearns, who hasn’t even officially started his job as Mets baseball president, logically will get the call, and Counsell is the only manager he ever has employed. Steve Cohen has a history of seeking the best, and a case could be made today for Counsell, whose first-place Brewers are heading for their fifth postseason in six seasons in baseball’s 30th-largest market.

Based on his record and rep, Counsell could command a salary at the top of the managerial scale (Bruce Bochy at about $6 million is believed to be the pay leader), and surely will get a raise from the $3.5 million he’s making. Counsell, once a strong players’ union guy, surely has noticed he’s 42 percent below the leader.

Though we recommended letting Buck Showalter, who managed Counsell in Arizona in 2000, remain Mets manager for 2024, Counsell’s long association with Stearns makes him a natural fit. (The Brewers, obviously good at hiring, like Counsell so much they’d consider bringing him back even if he takes time off, though that time-off scenario appears unlikely now).

A rival exec suggested Stearns luring Counsell away from his old Brewers team is “bad optics.” But there’s nothing to prevent it once Counsell’s contract with Milwaukee expires, and as one rival put it, “It’s a competitive business.”


David Stearns, the new president of baseball operations for the Mets.
David Stearns, the new president of baseball operations for the Mets.
Getty Images

Milwaukee has the hometown advantage here over Stearns, who is an Upper East Side product. Counsell’s father John worked as Brewers director of community relations under Bud Selig, and he’s a rare manager who lives year-round where he manages. He’s also a family man — with two girls in high school in Whitefish Bay, Wis., and two sons playing college baseball at Michigan and Minnesota, four reasons for hiatus speculation.

The Mets, of course, hold the monetary advantage for him — and for players (the Brewers possess a fine farm, but stars Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Willy Adames will be free agents after 2024). Managers don’t make as much as top baseball presidents, however, so don’t assume the Brewers can’t win a bidding war (and as you’d imagine, the cost of living is quite a bit lower in Wisconsin).

Share this @internewscast.com
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Awartani, through a message shared by a Professor of Palestinian studies at Brown University Beshara Doumani, stated the shooting is part of a 'larger story,' at a vigil on campus Monday night

Palestinian student Hisham Awartani left paralyzed after being shot in the spine in suspected hate crime breaks his silence to say attack ‘did not happen in a vacuum’

A Palestinian student, left paralyzed in a suspected hate crime, broke his…
Walker County Sheriff's Office target of alleged scam

Walker County Sheriff's Office target of alleged scam

WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — The Walker County Sheriff’s Office was allegedly…
President Joe Biden has been facing a growing revolt from his own staffers over his backing for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Top CIA official posted pro-Palestine picture on Facebook two weeks after Hamas’ terror attack on Israel as Biden faces mutiny from within

A growing revolt within the Biden administration at his handling of the…
Ohio grand jury declines to charge 8 officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker

Ohio police probe clears 8 officers

The eight Akron, Ohio, police officers involved in the fatal shooting of…
Josh Anderson, 49, an officer of the White Mountain Apache Police Deptartment, was arrested and is facing charges. Anderson's patrol vehicle had damage that was 'consistent with a collision with a pedestrian'

Arizona tribal cop is accused of ‘sickening’ cover-up after fatal hit-and-run on Thanksgiving: Mowed down woman, 30, and then returned to the scene to ‘investigate’ – even going to her parents home with other officers to tell them she was dead

An Arizona cop has been accused of ‘sickening’ cover-up after a woman…
Police in Michigan have arrested a 12-year-old boy who they said led them on a lengthy chase in a stolen forklift

Michigan boy, 12, steals FORKLIFT and smashes into ten parked cars as he leads cops on crazed chase through his hometown before he is arrested

Police in Michigan have arrested a 12-year-old boy who they said led…
🧪 Science with Sarah: Wind Vanes 💨

🧪 Science with Sarah: Wind Vanes 💨

Build an at-home wind vane to keep track to the wind direction…
Chowder became sick in October and his symptoms appeared minor until he began struggling to breathe and died days later

Florida woman who thinks her beloved shih tzu died from mystery dog disease spreading across US issues warning to other pet owners

A woman who believes her dog died of the new ‘mysterious’ dog…
Soccer 'sin bin' trial OK'd, opening door to major rule change

Soccer ‘sin bin’ trial OK’d, opening door to major rule change

The organization governing the rules of professional soccer gave the go-ahead Tuesday…
'Calling Hamas a terrorist organization is ridiculous, racist and plays into genocidal propaganda that is flooding our media and that we should be doing everything possible to combat,' said one young woman who concealed her face with a COVID mask

Woke Oakland residents deny Hamas  October 7 massacre and BOO Jewish speakers at town meeting where they blasted anyone who disagreed with them as ‘white supremacists’

Ultra-liberal residents of the Californian city of Oakland booed their Jewish neighbors…
'New Heights' was named the No. 1 sports podcast in the world by Spotify on Wednesday

Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights is crowned Spotify’s No. 1 sports podcast globally after Chiefs star’s girlfriend Taylor Swift was named most-streamed artist

By Eric Blum For Dailymail.Com Published: 16:57 EST, 29 November 2023 |…
Influential Iowa Faith Leader Endorses DeSantis

OPINION: There Is Still Time For DeSantis

Ok, so I’ve had a few minutes to digest the Americans for…