Cubs shoot Craig Counsell is hired as a new boss by David Ross.

Cubs shoot Craig Counsell is hired as a new boss by David Ross.

On Monday, the Chicago Cubs dismissed manager David Ross or hired Craig Counsell. Sources close to the deal told ESPN that the record-setting five-year, $40 million deal was what drew the former Milwaukee Brewers manager to Chicago.

The moves, that the Cubs revealed Monday afternoon, shocked the baseball world, that thought Counsell would either go back to Milwaukee or be hired by the New York Mets.

When Counsell’s deal with the Brewers ended on October 31, the Cubs quickly showed interest and made an offer that shattered the pay scale for managers at the time.

Terry Francona, who managed the Cleveland Guardians, made $4.5 million a year, which was the most ever paid for a manager.

During his 16-year career, Counsell was a leader in the Baseball’s Major League Players Association. When he became a free agent, he asked the Cubs to raise manager salaries, and they did.

Counsell’s new salary of more than $5 million put him in a league with Joe Torre of the New York Yankees.

This action reminded me of when Chicago replaced manager Rick Renteria within the middle of the season as well as hired Joe Maddon instead.

Two years later, Maddon led the team to its fifth World Series win after going 108 years without one.

Chicago fired Maddon at the end of the 2019 season and hired Ross, who had no longer played baseball but had helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016.

Ross was the Cubs’ first manager, and he led them to the National League Central title in the 2020 season, which was cut short because of COVID-19.

The Cubs had a couple of bad years during which they traded away key players from their title run. They got back on track in 2023, going 83–79 but missing the playoffs because of a slump in the late season.

On Monday, the Chicago Cubs sacked manager David Ross as well as hired Craig Counsell. Sources close to the deal told ESPN that the record-setting five-year, $40 million deal was what drew the former Milwaukee Brewers manager to Chicago.

The moves, and this the Cubs revealed Monday afternoon, shocked the baseball world, that thought Counsell would either go back to Milwaukee or be hired by the New York Mets.

Ross was praised by the Cubs in public. On October 2, owner Tom Ricketts said, “He’s our guy.”

When Counsell’s deal with the Brewers ended on October 31, the Cubs quickly showed interest and made an offer that shattered the pay scale for managers at the time.

Terry Francona, who managed the Cleveland Guardians, made $4.5 million a year, which was the most ever paid for a manager.

During his 16-year career, Counsell was a leader in the Major League Baseball Players Association. When he became a free agent, he asked the Cubs to raise manager salaries, and they did.

Counsell’s new salary of more than $5 million put him in a league with Joe Torre of the New York Yankees.

This action reminded me of when Chicago dismissed manager Rick Renteria within the middle about his contract as well as hired Joe Maddon instead.

Two years later, Maddon led the team to its first World Series win after going 108 years without one.

Chicago fired Maddon at the end of the 2019 season and hired Ross, who had no longer played baseball but had helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016.

Ross was the Cubs’ first manager, and he led them to the National League Central title in the 2020 season, which was cut short because of COVID-19.

The Cubs had a couple of bad years during which they traded away key players from their title run. They got back on track in 2023, going 83–79 but missing the playoffs because of a slump in the late season.

The hire of Counsel gives a team that wants to make the playoffs a sense of urgency. Counsell has been the Brewers’ manager for nine years and has led them to the playoffs five times in the last six years, including this season when they went 92–70 and won the NL Central.