Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell has deep ties to the franchise and to the state of Wisconsin — but word is he would in fact welcome the challenge of coming to New York if he and the Mets proved to be a fit.
No one in the game doubts Counsell’s managing skill; the key question has been whether he would be willing to leave Milwaukee. Counsell’s father, John, was a longtime Brewers employee, and Counsell still lives with his family in Whitefish Bay, Wisc., where he graduated from high school. The Brewers have been open about wanting him back.
Two league sources familiar with the situation said on Monday that Counsell would indeed embrace New York. A job with the Mets would reunite him with his former Brewers boss, new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.
Of course, the interview process has to go well in order for Counsell to be offered or accept a job in Queens. That will not begin until after Counsell’s Brewers contract expires on Oct. 31.
But if he and Stearns wish to continue their partnership, sources say, geography will not be a roadblock.
The Mets plan to conduct a wide-ranging manager search, and not automatically anoint a particular candidate.