REPORT: Craig Counsell Interviewing For Guardians’ Manager Position

Cleveland is reportedly hosting the Milwaukee Brewers' manager for an interview for the Guardians' manager position today.

Over the past few days, the Cleveland Guardians have asked for and received permission to interview Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell for Cleveland’s manager position.

The Guardians have now taken the next step in their interest by interviewing him today.

According to The Athletic’s Zack Meisel and Will Sammon, “Craig Counsell is in Cleveland to meet with the Guardians about their managerial opening.”

Craig Counsell is in Cleveland to meet with the Guardians about their managerial opening, league sources tell @WillSammon and me.

— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) October 30, 2023

Cleveland has interviewed several candidates so far, including Seattle Mariners bullpen and quality control coach Stephen Vogt (twice), and Chicago Cubs bench coach Andy Green, who served as the San Diego Padres’ manager for nearly four full seasons.

The Brewers have been hesitant to guarantee Counsell’s future with their team, as his contract runs through the end of this month.

Sep 5, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell (30) smiles from the dugout during batting practice before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park / © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Counsell is also set to interview for the New York Mets’ manager position, where he could reunite with former Milwaukee president David Stearns.

The Guardians could potentially make Counsell one the highest-paid managers in baseball. According to MLB Network insider and New York Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman, Cleveland had future Hall-of-Famer Terry Francona as MLB’s highest-paid manager with an annual salary of $4.5 million.

Guardians manager list includes Mariners coach Steven Vogt, Giants coach Craig Albernaz, Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza, Cubs coach Andy Green and Craig Counsell, a free agent Nov. 1. Terry Francona was highest paid manager ($4.5M) so CC possible but Mets, Brewers tough to top here

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 27, 2023

Additionally, the Guardians may have a similar mindset to what Counsell has been used to in Milwaukee. A few days ago, Sammon shared his thoughts on this idea:

“The Guardians’ front-office group operates in a forward-thinking way — similar to the Brewers before and after Stearns — and that might hold some appeal to Counsell.”

Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto recently wrote that he, “was told by a top MLB source Counsell was ‘a long shot’ to go to Cleveland.”

Based on how today’s interview goes, Guardians fans will have to wait and see if these reported chances increase.