The Chicago Cubs hired Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell after Counsell announced he was not returning to Milwaukee. Chicago Cubs manager David Ross, who has not been officially fired or demoted within the organization, will now be replaced. Counsell becomes the highest-paid manager in the majors, inking a five-year, $40 million deal.
Craig Counsell before Managing
Craig Counsell’s entire managerial career has been with the Brewers, for whom he has worked since 2012. After retiring from playing baseball, the Brewers offered Counsell a front-office job, and he worked as the special assistant to general manager Doug Melvin. In 2014, Counsell moved to a color commentary job within the Brewers broadcasting crew. In 2015, The Brewers hired Counsell a day after firing former manager Ron Roenicke. Counsell took over a Brewers team in rebuild mode.
Craig Counsell as Brewers Manager
2015-2017
The first two years for Counsell were as expected for a rebuilding team: not so hot. The Brewers went 61–76 and 73–89 under Counsell and both times finished fourth in the National League Central division. With the Brewers off back-to-back losing seasons, Counsell bounced back in 2017. In 2017, Counsell had his breakthrough, as the Brewers went 86-76, finishing second in the division but one game back of a playoff berth and fourth in NL Manager of the Year voting. Counsell looked to earn his first playoff berth in the upcoming season.
2018-Present
In 2018, the Milwaukee Brewers went 96–67 and defeated the Cubs in a tiebreaker game/163rd game to win the NL Central. The Brewers swept the Colorado Rockies in the NLDS but fell just short of a World Series appearance, falling in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Counsell also fell short of NL Manager of the Year, finishing second behind Brian Snitker.
Since 2019, the Brewers have a 391–317 and have gone to the postseason every time except 2022. Counsell hasn’t led the Brewers past the NLDS, where every team they lost to advanced to the World Series. The Brewers won the division in 2021 and 2023, and Counsell leaves a team looking to repeat as division champions.
Counsell now takes over a division rival in Chicago and looks to duplicate his recipe of success at Wrigley Field.
David Ross as Cubs Manager
Former catcher David Ross took over managerial duties for the Chicago Cubs in 2020. Replacing World Series-winning manager Joe Madden, Ross posted a 262–282 record with a winning percentage of .480. In the 2020 season, the Cubs won the NL Central, but after that, they finished fourth, third, and second. Ross finished the 2023 season with an 83–79 record and will be looking for another position.
