Craig Counsell was named manager of the Chicago Cubs on Monday, hiring him away from division rival Milwaukee after firing David Ross to clear the position.
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer confirmed the moves in an announcement Monday afternoon, hours after reports pointed to Chicago as the “mystery team” involved in the competitive pursuit of the managerial free agent Counsell.
“Today we made the difficult decision to dismiss David Ross as our Major League Manager. On behalf of the Cubs organization, we express our deep gratitude for David’s contributions to our club, both on and off the field,” Hoyer said in a statement. “First as a player and then as a manager, David continually showcased his ability to lead. David’s legacy will be felt in Chicago for generations and his impact to our organization will stack up with the legends that came before him.”
“Going forward, our Major League team will be managed by Craig Counsell. We look forward to welcoming Craig at Wrigley Field early next week.”
The Athletic reported that Counsell is signing a five-year deal with the Cubs that is worth more than $40 million, which would make him the highest-paid skipper in the majors.
Counsell, whose contract with Milwaukee expired Oct. 31, had been linked to managerial openings with the New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians.
Counsell, 53, went 707-625 in nine seasons with the Cubs’ National League Central neighbors. The Brewers won three division titles in Counsell’s tenure and made a run to the NLCS in 2018, where they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.
Milwaukee went 92-70 in 2023 and won the division before being swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild-card round.
Ross, 46, is out after four seasons managing the Cubs. He posted a 262-284 record in those seasons. The Cubs made a second-half charge to finish last season 83-79, but the franchise has not made the playoffs since the truncated 2020 season that featured an expanded playoff field.
The Mets, who parted with Buck Showalter at the end of the regular season, hired New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza for its managerial job Monday with Counsell choosing the Cubs. Stephen Vogt was named the new manager of the Guardians, replacing the retiring Terry Francona.
