Amazing news: we learned from the New York Mets head coach’s interview that he has additional wandering plans that…

Amazing news: we learned from the New York Mets head coach’s interview that he has additional wandering plans that…

It is now known that Craig Counsell can and most likely will be interviewed by the Mets.

Not to be minimized, does David Stearns wish to work with Counsell again in order to have him oversee the Mets?

The Brewers gave the Mets permission to speak with Counsell. To some extent, though, that was just semantics at the last minute. Since he formally joined the Mets on October 2, Stearns has not placed much emphasis on expediting managerial interviews. His contract with the Milwaukee Brewers expires on Tuesday.

Counsell has also kept his wishes a secret. However, he possesses leverage, which is an uncommon asset for a manager these days, particularly if he wishes to remain in Milwaukee.

Not only has Counsell been there, but prosperous during his more than eight years as Brewers manager. In the smallest market in MLB, he is extremely popular. Counsell was born and raised in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. His father was employed by the company. Before making the playoffs five times in the last six seasons under a local kid who has turned things around, the Brewers had only ever made it to the postseason four times.

It should be noted that Counsell was an extremely involved member of the MLB Players Association throughout his playing career. Throughout the collective bargaining process with MLB, he was regarded as a thoughtful and intelligent member of the negotiating committee by the union leadership. Counsell spoke out for players getting compensated for their contributions.

Before Game Two, Brewers manager Craig Counsell is pictured  the Wild Card Series
It remains to be seen if Craig Counsell is genuinely interested in the Mets.
Getty Photographs
Why would that be different in his present situation? Counsell, 53, is still in the peak of his management years. He is regarded as one of the finest in the game; the Brewers, for instance, have surpassed the Pythagorean winning percentage in each of the previous seven seasons based on runs allowed and scored.

Counsell is essentially at the pinnacle in his field. In 2023, he earned $3.5 million. At $6 million or more, the manager market is at its peak. Traditionally, the Brewers would not pay a salary like that. But what about a prosperous neighborhood hero? How about a prosperous neighborhood hero at a moment when the team is working to complete arrangements for the local government to spend nearly $500 million on American Family Field stadium upgrades? If Counsell leaves money behind, are the Brewers really willing to take a chance on negative sentiment in the community?

Another possibility on the Counsell leverage side is the possibility of Steve Cohen becoming an opposition bidder. Cohen has a history of being prepared to pay whatever price is required to get what he wants. To put it mildly, the Brewers were not fond of the idea that the Mets waited for Stearns’ Brewers contract to expire before offering him one of the biggest salaries ever given to a baseball operations chief.

Is Counsell truly interested in joining the Mets? Or does he desire the to think he will visit the Mets, Brewers? Or is he just a free agent now, open to hearing pitches from interested parties? Dusty Baker recently announced his retirement, which means the Astros position is also up.