Craig Counsell began baseball’s offseason with a stunning decision, leaving the Brewers to become the Cubs’ new manager.
The assumption throughout MLB was that Counsell would join his former general manager David Stearns with the Mets. And no one even knew the Cubs were a possibility as David Ross was still their manager. But the opportunity for a new challenge that allowed Counsell to stay close to his Wisconsin home was appealing.
Getting a significant raise to become the highest-paid manager in baseball was also a very attractive reason for changing jobs. Most of the surprise over Counsell’s decision faded amid reports that the Cubs agreed to pay him $8 million per season. The record-high salary more than doubles what Counsell earned with Milwaukee.
