Cubs team president Jed Hoyer has always admired Craig Counsell from afar . From his vantage point, the manager had no weaknesses. Hoyer watched as Counsell continually maximized a Milwaukee Brewers roster that never seemed to be the best in the division in terms of on-paper talent, yet kept winning.
Hoyer regarded Counsell as a manager with a knack for in-game decisions, exceptional clubhouse leadership, and a deft touch in handling the media. The Cubs considered him the finest manager in the league.
However, Hoyer was aware that Counsell was a highly sought-after managerial talent, and he wasn’t eager to make a change with his team. David Ross had been hand-picked by Hoyer and Theo Epstein to succeed the legendary Joe Maddon, the manager who led the Cubs to their historic 2016 World Series win. The plan had been for Counsell to have a new contract in place by November 1, when he would officially become a free agent. Hoyer had no intention of pursuing him before that date. While he had a sense that Counsell might not choose New York due to family ties in the Midwest, he believed Counsell would return to Milwaukee. Craig Counsell from afar
The decision to pursue Counsell wasn’t motivated by any underlying tension between Ross and Hoyer. As November approached and Counsell remained available, Hoyer’s interest grew. An opportunity to make a significant improvement presented itself, and Hoyer acted swiftly. On November 1, he contacted Counsell, and the two met in the Chicagoland area. Hoyer was determined to keep this process confidential to avoid any public fallout, which might strain the relationship between the manager and the head of baseball operations. To ensure secrecy, very few people in the front office were informed about the meeting, and Counsell never visited the Cubs’ offices near Wrigley Field. The two had minimal interaction before that meeting on November 1, but they quickly established a rapport and engaged in extensive discussions late into the night.