Craig Counsell got massive contract from Cubs

Dec 5, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell speaks to the media at Manchester Grand Hyatt. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs lured Craig Counsell away from the Milwaukee Brewers and outbid several teams in order to land him as their new manager.

As first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Counsell is getting a five-year contract from the Cubs worth over $40 million. At roughly $8 million annually, this is easily a record for the largest managerial contract ever.

Counsell getting five-year contract from Cubs worth more than $40M, league sources tell @TheAthletic. Will be highest-paid manager.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 6, 2023

According to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers were willing to offer Counsell roughly $5.5 million annually. The New York Mets were expected to be willing to go to somewhere around $7 million per year, but the Cubs blew past both of those figures.

The Brewers offered Craig Counsell in the neighborhood of $5.5 million per season, which would have easily made him the highest-paid manager in MLB.

Everyone expected the Mets to throw $7 million per season (or more) at Counsell.

No one expected the Cubs to do so.

Wow.

— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) November 6, 2023

Counsell was a major target for several teams, as his contract with the Brewers expired at the end of the 2023 season. The Cubs landing him shocked many, especially since they already had a manager who they ruthlessly cast aside to bring Counsell in.