Former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell is the new most hated man in Wisconsin, simulating Brett Favre from all those years ago. Counsell left the Brewers -- a franchise in which he was closing in on icon status -- to become the new manager of the Chicago Cubs.
For all those Cubs fans who enjoy mocking American Family Field as 'Wrigley North', this provided the ultimate trash talk material. Counsell signed a five-year, $40 million contract to become the highest-paid manager in baseball history, surpassing Joe Torre. In many ways, the Cubs view Counsell as an on-field acquisition, or someone who does far more than just fill out a lineup card.
Replacing Counsell will be no easy task for the Brewers. They have set some initial interviews, including those already in the organization. Steven Vogt would have been a popular choice had he not just signed on with the Cleveland Guardians. David Ross, just fired by the Cubs, is not expected to be in the running despite how petty and hilarious that would be.
Pat Murphy makes a lot of sense to replace Craig Counsell
Pat Murphy is the top internal candidate for the Brewers managerial job, it would seem. The Brewers bench coach is a veteran in the game, and respected in the Milwaukee clubhouse. Should he not stay with the Brewers as their next manager, there's a decent chance he could join the Chicago Cubs staff under David Ross.
As David Gasper of Reviewing the Brew points out, Murphy is the easy choice if the Brewers would prefer to name a new manager early in the offseason:
"Murphy may be the choice if the Brewers want to get a new manager named as quickly as possible. If they aren't too interested in looking externally, Murphy could soon be the name. If the process drags on, it could become less and less likely that Murph ends up with the job," Gasper wrote.
The longer this search goes, though, the more likely it is that Milwaukee would prefer an external candidate. That could lead to Murphy taking another top assistant job elsewhere, such as with the Cubs.
Walker McKinven is another obvious internal candidate to replace Craig Counsell
Walker McKinven plays a vital role in the Brewers day-to-day strategy, and worked directly with Counsell as his right-hand man when he was in Milwaukee. McKinven's versatility is a strength, and he arguably has the best understanding of any internal candidate as to how the organization works, including the front office. McKinven's familiarity with all the aspects of Milwaukee's baseball business could make him an ally with leading executive Matt Arnold, something the GM would surely value for a change.
As Brian Sampson of Dairyland Express points out, that versatility could give McKinven the edge over Murphy to replace Counsell:
"If the Brewers are going to hire internally, Walker McKinven is probably the lead candidate over Pat Murphy. He's been in Milwaukee since 2016, holding various positions, with his most recent one being their associate pitching, catching, and strategy coach. That familiarity could give him a leg up as the team has watched him closely for seven years now," Sampson wrote.
While an internal replacement is the easy choice, especially one who understands the Brewers expectations on the field and with payroll, an external option would provide Milwaukee with a fresh voice at a time they desperately need it.
Clayton McCullough could be the most realistic external replacement for Craig Counsell, Brewers
Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough recently interviewed for the Cleveland Guardians managerial job, which ultimately went to Vogt. Nonetheless, the Guardians came away from that experience impressed with McCullough, which could lead to opportunities down the road. McCullough has also interviewed with the Mets and Royals in the past. Eventually, he will land one of these managerial jobs. Why not with the Brewers?
The Guardians were looking for a young, analytically-driven manager who could help maintain the clubhouse presence left by Terry Francona. While Vogt eventually won out, it's easy to see how McCullough fits that mold.
McCullough has plenty of experience around a winning organization in Los Angeles, as he's spent nine years with the team and three with Dave Roberts coaching staff. He even coached in the All-Star Game back in 2021. McCullough got his start as a minor-league field coordinator, and eventually made his way up the Los Angeles system.
