Chicago Cubs Hire Rival Manager, Replace Ross in Shocking Move

In a complete shock, the Chicago Cubs have hired highly coveted manager and former rival Craig Counsell to take over as their manager heading into 2024.

It was expected that the Chicago Cubs would have a very busy offseason and be major players in the trade and free agency markets.

One area that nobody expected them to be searching for was a new manager after ownership and the front office came out in support of David Ross following the disappointing end to their 2023 campaign.

But the Cubs made the most shocking move of the offseason and have hired former rival manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, Craig Counsell, to be their next manager according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Counsell became the all-time winningest manager of the Brewers with 707 wins and led three NL Central titles and five postseason appearances in nine seasons as their skipper.

What prompted this move is unknown at this time, especially after Ross received support from the decision makers.

But with one of the best managers in the MLB on the market, Chicago made an aggressive move to get a proven figure into the mix as they attempt to become contenders once again.

The Cubs shelled out the most lucrative deals in Major League history to land Counsell.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that he will be the highest paid manager in history after getting a five-year deal worth more than $40 million.

Chicago has subsequently fired manager Ross despite the vote of confidence that he received. 

President of baseball operations released this statement after announcing the shakeup.

"Today we made the difficult decision to dismiss David Ross. On behalf of the Cubs organization, we express our deep gratitude for David’s contributions to our club, both on and off the field. 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.”

A shocking move from the Cubs as they get ultra-aggressive and bring in one of the best managers in baseball.