If the Mets want to go for the Milwaukee sweep, Craig Counsell is willing to listen.
Counsell, the Brewers manager, is in the final year of his contract, and will attempt to win the World Series when postseason play begins Tuesday with his third-seeded Brewers hosting the sixth-seeded Diamondbacks.
Once the lights go out on the Brewers season, Counsell is willing to listen to potential suitors.
“I’m not under contract, so if other people ask, I’m not going to ignore it,” Counsell said, according to The Athletic.
While the small-market Brewers cannot match Steve Cohen’s wallet, it’s not a given that Counsell will follow new Mets top baseball executive David Stearns and leave Cheesehead country for the Big Apple to replace the just-axed Buck Showalter.
There have been questions about whether or not Counsell will manage next year or potentially take a year off after eight-plus seasons managing the Brewers, which includes five playoff trips.
Counsell, 53, also has strong ties to the Milwaukee area.
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His father, John, served as the Brewers’ community relations director, and he also played six seasons for the team. His family is based in the area.
“I’m enjoying doing what I’m doing, so I would guess I’ll keep doing it,” Counsell said, per the Athletic. “But the promise I made to myself was just get to the end of the year and see where life has you. And it’s unusual for a manager to do that — but when I think about it, I think it’s fine to do.”
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio believes Counsell has earned the right to decide on what’s best for his future, but made it clear he hopes that Counsell won’t bolt.
“He just hit 700 wins the other night,” Attanasio said, according to the Athletic. “It’s hard to believe, because it feels like he was just in my apartment yesterday when I was trying to convince him to step in as manager. But you don’t get that many opportunities to reflect on that and say, ‘Gee, where else might you go and what other challenges might you take on?’ So he wants to think about that, and nobody’s earned it more than he has.
“Of course I want him to stay on. But he prefers to focus on the season, so that’s where that’s at. Hopefully the season goes deep into October and we’ll pick up the conversation when it’s over.”
This offseason will mark the first time Stearns runs a managerial search, and he said he will not rush the process — even if his former manager is available.
“I view the managerial position as one of true partnership,” Stearns said. “The manager has so many responsibilities these days. It is a big job. But first and foremost is the ability to manage people; manage personalities; and create and facilitate an organizational culture where people enjoy coming to work and work hard.”
