Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold praised Craig Counsell and stated he hopes their friendship lasts a lifetime whereas discussing how the group will transfer ahead with out its longtime supervisor.
Arnold was talking at Main League Baseball’s basic supervisor conferences in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Wednesday, two days after the Chicago Cubs lured Counsell from Milwaukee with a five-year deal price over $40 million. Counsell, who grew up within the Milwaukee space, is the winningest supervisor in Brewers historical past and led them to 5 playoff berths over the previous six seasons.
“All of the accolades, he deserves,” Arnold stated. “I definitely loved our time collectively. I will at all times have good recollections working with Craig Counsell. There isn’t any query about that. He is nonetheless my good friend and neighbor, however on the identical time we’ll be competing in opposition to one another. It must be a number of enjoyable.”
Arnold acknowledged he was stunned Counsell took a job with a division rival. Arnold additionally clarified the standing of the coaches who labored on Counsell’s employees this season.
Brewers principal proprietor Mark Attanasio stated throughout a Zoom session Monday that every one the coaches have been below contract for the 2024 season and “they’re all returning.” Arnold famous how that would impression bench coach Pat Murphy.
“Pat Murphy is in very actual dialogue for our managerial alternative, however we additionally wished to guarantee that if he is not, that the brand new supervisor would have the chance to have their very own bench coach,” Arnold stated. “Mark Attanasio’s a really loyal individual, and so if it finally ends up with Pat Murphy not being our supervisor, he’ll completely have a house right here with the Brewers.”
Murphy was Notre Dame’s head coach when Counsell performed for the Preventing Irish from 1989 to 1992. Counsell employed Murphy as bench coach after the 2015 season. So the chance definitely exists Murphy may need to be a part of Counsell’s Cubs employees if the Brewers do not rent him as supervisor.
Arnold was requested how the Brewers would reply if the Cubs tried to rent away any of Milwaukee’s coaches.
“Having come from the Tampa Bay Rays, there’s a number of locations the place you get raided when you’ve got good folks,” Arnold stated. “And I believe we have had that occur right here in Milwaukee, and that is one thing we must be happy with. I believe that speaks to our tradition and the nice those who we have produced right here. And I believe we’re at all times once more beginning with folks first. If it is a good alternative for anyone else, we would definitely be open to having that dialogue.”
Arnold did not point out some other doable candidates for the Brewers’ supervisor emptiness except for Murphy. He additionally did not go into specifics concerning what he is in search of in a supervisor apart from saying he needs to search out “if you happen to’re utilizing the scouting scale, an 80 human.”
“We now have a protracted listing of those who we’re vetting in the mean time,” Arnold stated.
Arnold stated Counsell’s departure and the ensuing supervisor search provides the Brewers an opportunity to “reassess our total franchise” and take a “contemporary look” at the whole lot they’ve executed.
“I am thrilled for him and his end result,” Arnold stated. “On the identical time, we’re ready the place now we have to place our greatest foot ahead, and we’ll do precisely that. He is obtained a brand new alternative he is enthusiastic about. And I believe truthfully we’re enthusiastic about our alternative as effectively.”
