Cubs' Division Rival Could Lose Manager in Offseason

The Chicago Cubs rival Milwaukee Brewers could be losing the most successful manager in their franchise's history this offseason as he's generating interest from another team.

The Chicago Cubs decided to bring back David Ross for the 2024 season, wanting to keep things consistent and build upon the turnaround year they put together.

Their goal is to become a contender and that starts with winning the NL Central division.

A team that has been on top or at the top of the division for the past seven years has been the Milwaukee Brewers.

It's no surprise that coincides with manager Craig Counsell's tenure since he took over in 2015 to oversee their rebuild.

After finishing fourth in the NL Central during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the Brewers have won three division titles, been runners-up three times and made the postseason five times under Counsell.

He has become the most successful manager in Milwaukee's history, winning 707 games and shattering the previous mark of 563.

But, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, there's a chance that the Cubs' rival loses their prestigious manager to another team this offseason.

"Folks around the game are starting to think the Mets have a reasonable chance to sign star managerial free agent Craig Counsell away from his hometown Brewers since he deferred extension talks in spring, and there’s no sign of progress yet," Heyman writes.

It would be quite a signing for the New York Mets to lure Counsell away from the Brewers. His two daughters go to high school in the Milwaukee area and his sons play college football at the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota.

"Many might assume the Mets have the upper hand — he has a solid working relationship with new Mets honcho David Stearns and the money likely will be better (one person guessed double the $3.5 million he made in 2023)," Heyman reports in his story.

The Mets aren't able to officially talk to Counsell until November.

Still, it feels like there is building momentum that the Brewers could lose their manager heading into the season.