The Chicago Cubs surprised the baseball world by hiring Craig Counsell as manager.
This was reported by The Athletic’s renowned Ken Rosenthal on Monday afternoon, shortly before the organization’s official confirmation.
Counsell, Major League Baseball’s most sought-after coach, is joining a team that shouldn’t have been looking for a new manager. In fact, David Ross was the team’s go-to guy, but the Cubs decided to move because they felt like they just couldn’t leave Counsell out.
The man who has been at the helm of the Brewers since 2015 will become the highest-paid manager in Major League Baseball. According to Rosenthal, Counsell’s contract with the Cubs will pay him more than $40 million over the next five seasons.
Elsewhere in Major Baseball, the Mets and Guardians have also found their new manager. Carlos Mendoza is the new pilot based in New York, while Stephen Vogt has been assigned to lead the Cleveland team.