Craig Counsell could stay with the Milwaukee Brewers. They did make the postseason after all, and even the NLDS. Yet, Counsell is one of the more respected baseball minds in the sport. He's since interviewed with the Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets, and there could be more to come.
If Counsell were to leave, certain Brewers players could very well follow him there. Counsell was a beloved manager for a reason. Cleveland and New York -- the two locations he has interviewed so far -- are solid organizations with a winning culture, for the most part.
Counsell is said to be very serious in his interest with the Mets. While he enjoyed his Guardians visit, it's tough to see Cleveland entering a bidding war for a managerial opening. New York, meanwhile, could be interest. And that interest is mutual, per Jon Heyman. However, there are some looming issues:
"One other issue that may help the Mets is that Counsell is said to be interested in raising the bar for managerial salaries, which have stagnated or even trended lower in recent years, from a high of Joe Torre's $8 million at his height in the Yankees' dynasty."
Managerial salaries have taken a hit in recent years, but if any skipper deserves to reset the bar, it's Counsell.
Could Corbin Burnes join Craig Counsell with New York Mets?
The Mets are looking for young, controllable pitching in the years to come. Their experiment in signing Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander did not pan out, as they traded both. Burnes will not hit free agency until after next season, but he's expected to be shopped at the winter meetings, and the Mets make a lot of sense. They do feature David Stearns, the former Brewers GM, after all. Adding Counsell would only increase the momentum.
FanSided's Robert Murray wrote about the Brewers mistakes with Burnes and his agency last spring:
"Going to an arbitration hearing, and ripping the best young pitcher in baseball to his face, over less than $750,000 is not worth it. Sure, it saved the Brewers money now. It saved them money in the future, too," Murray wrote.
Burnes was also unhappy at the time, speaking on the matter publicly to the media.
"There's no denying that the relationship was definitely hurt from what (transpired) over the last couple weeks. There's really no way to get around that," Burnes said. "When some of the things that are said … they basically put me in the forefront of the reason why we didn't make the postseason last year. That's something that probably didn't need to be said."
Perhaps that damage was repaired this season. Perhaps not. Either way, the Mets certainly have interest.
Wade Miley could follow Craig Counsell wherever he goes
Wade Miley is an affordable starting pitcher coming off a productive season. Miley has a mutual option with the Brewers, but that's expected to fold somewhat, and the veteran starter can test free agency for what could be his final multiyear deal. Miley pitched to a surprising 3.14 ERA this season with the Brewers and was one of their more reliable pitchers. Jim Bowden of The Athletic discussed how valued Miley may be this winter:
"It was the third consecutive year in which he posted an ERA under 3.40. He ranked in the 93rd percentile in hard-hit rate and in the 80th percentile in pitching run value. Opposing batters hit .232 against his cutter, .219 against his changeup, .198 against his four-seam fastball and .200 against his slider. Miley is a solid back-of-the-rotation starter, especially when sandwiched between two flame throwers. He has a $10 million mutual option with a $1 million buyout," Bowden wrote.
Miley is still expected to receive a one-year deal, per Bowden, but don't be surprised if he jumps at the first multiyear deal he receives.
Carlos Santana could follow Craig Counsell to New York or Cleveland
Carlos Santana was a rental the Brewers acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the deadline. Santana proved he still has plenty left to give during his prove-it season in the NL Central. While he likely won't earn anything more than another one-year contract this offseason, don't be surprised if he follows Counsell to the ends of the earth. Counsell played a major role in his early success with Milwaukee, and was thrilled when he was reacquired. Expect a similar reaction if the team Counsell manages next season brings Santana in.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic listed Santana as one of his best 40 free agents. While Cleveland hasn't been directly linked to Santana, fans should be fairly familiar with him considering he played just a short two-hour drive away last season. Also, Santana is a tremendous clubhouse presence, something the Guardians will need given the absence of Terry Francona:
"The Brewers acquired Carlos Santana at the trade deadline from the Pirates and he was a key cog for them the rest of the way, working counts and driving the ball (116 OPS+ in the second half) and serving as a positive influence on their young players. On the season, Santana slashed .240/.318/.429 with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs," Bowden wrote.
Santana will be a key acquisition wherever he goes. Why not follow a manager who believes in him?
