Updated Post – Sept. 20

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the latest word is that Craig Counsell will manage in 2024. It had been previously reported/speculated by many that the pending free agent manager might take the year off to be with his family.

Heyman notes that it could become a bidding war between Counsell’s current team, the Brewers, and the Mets that will be equipped with Counsell’s long-time former boss, David Stearns.

Stearns will officially become the Mets president of baseball operations in two weeks. One of the first decisions he must make is whether or not to bring back manager Buck Showalter. The veteran manager has one year left on his original contract with the Mets.

Original Post – Sept. 10

In addition t0 reporting that the Angels would be open to trading Mike Trout if he requested, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported other news that could impact the Mets in the future.

Nightengale said that he’s heard that Brewers manager Craig Counsell has told friends that he “likely” would take a year off next year, as his contract is up with the team. Rumors have swirled that, if the Mets bring on David Stearns to be their president of baseball operations, Counsell could follow.

It’s reported that Counsell would take time off “to be around his family, with two sons playing collegiate baseball and two daughters in high school.”

Craig Counsell. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, this is thinking multiple steps down the road, but if Stearns does indeed become the President of Baseball Operations, and Buck Showalter does not return, Counsell’s name would be at the top of the list of names to become manager because of his connections to Stearns. This report wouldn’t prevent the team from at least having a conversation with him.

The 53-year-old Counsell has been the Brewers’ manager since 2015—a year before Stearns was brought on as Brewers general manager. As of publishing, he’s 694-618 in nearly nine seasons, winning the NL Central twice and en route for a third division crown. In 2018, they lost in the NLCS in seven games to the Dodgers, who ultimately lost to the Red Sox in the World Series. He has the most wins as a manager in Brewers history.

Before his managerial career, Counsell was a utility infielder with five teams across 16 seasons. He won World Series championships with the 1997 Florida Marlins and 2001 Arizona Diamonbacks, with whom he was part of the ninth-inning rally to beat Mariano Rivera and the Yankees.