Craig Counsell, the man partially responsible for prolonging Cleveland’s World Series drought a quarter-century ago, could be the manager to halt the hex. Counsell met with Guardians brass in Cleveland on Monday about the club’s managerial vacancy, multiple league sources said.
League sources indicated Counsell will next interview with the New York Mets, but a formal date for that meeting was not yet known as of Monday morning. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers aim to retain their longtime manager, and some internal hope, league sources suggested, exists that they will. As one of the game’s most well-regarded managers, it stands to reason that every team with a vacancy is interested in Counsell, though some teams will be more attractive to him than others.
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Counsell scored the winning run in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the World Series in 1997, vaulting the Marlins, in their infancy, to a title and sending Cleveland to another crushing defeat. The Guardians’ championship drought stands at 75 years, the longest active spell for any professional sports team in one city.
Counsell could be the final — and certainly is the most experienced — candidate to visit the Guardians’ offices at Progressive Field this month. Stephen Vogt, who retired in 2022 after a decade in the big leagues as a journeyman catcher, is also thought to be receiving consideration. Vogt served as a coaching apprentice on Counsell’s staff in Milwaukee in 2018 as he rehabbed a shoulder injury.
The Guardians had intended to identify a successor to Terry Francona by about the end of October, a source said, but Counsell’s availability muddled their process, which began with 45 or so candidates. Cleveland has interviewed Cubs bench coach Andy Green, Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough, Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza and Giants bullpen coach Craig Albernaz. The club has also talked to internal candidates John McDonald and Chris Valaika.
None of Cleveland’s other options can match the track record of Counsell, the Brewers’ winningest manager. Counsell’s contract with Milwaukee, his hometown team, officially expires Tuesday, but the Brewers granted the Guardians and Mets permission to speak with him.
Multiple people within the industry expect Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns to pry Counsell out of Milwaukee, but Cleveland has acted aggressively as well. For the Mets and Stearns, Counsell represents a sensible choice. Counsell and Stearns experienced the most successful run of Brewers baseball together from 2015-22. From 2018-21, the Brewers advanced to the playoffs each season, setting a franchise record and tying the number of times (four) it had previously reached the postseason altogether.
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Plus, Mets owner Steve Cohen, baseball’s richest owner, could make Counsell the highest-paid manager in baseball. Despite their perennially paltry payroll, the Guardians did make Francona among the highest-paid managers in the league throughout his 11-year tenure.
Counsell owns leverage in all situations, especially when it comes to the Brewers. He’d be incredibly difficult to replace in Milwaukee. Counsell, who lives in Wisconsin year-round, is believed to have made $3.5 million last season. Those close to him suggested that the opportunity to raise the floor for managerial salaries means a lot to Counsell. It sounds like if the Brewers want to re-sign him, owner Mark Attanasio will have to make a solid offer.
(Photo: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)