Milwaukee’s Arnold praises Counsell while discussing how Brewers plan to replace him
FILE - Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold answers questions Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Milwaukee. Arnold said he is speaking regularly with Craig Counsell but couldn鈥檛 predict how soon the NL鈥檚 longest-tenured manager would decide on whether to return next season.
FILE -Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell watches from the dugout in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Atlanta. The first sign of discontent regarding Craig Counsell鈥檚 decision to leave the Milwaukee Brewers to manage the Chicago Cubs appeared in his hometown at the Little League field that bears his name.
Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold praised Craig Counsell and said he hopes their friendship lasts a lifetime while discussing how the organization will move forward without its longtime manager.
Arnold was speaking at Major League Baseball鈥檚 general manager meetings in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Wednesday, two days after the Chicago Cubs lured Counsell from Milwaukee with a five-year deal worth over $40 million. Counsell, who grew up in the Milwaukee area, is the winningest manager in Brewers history and led them to five playoff berths over the last six seasons.
鈥淎ll the accolades, he deserves,鈥� Arnold said. 鈥淚 certainly enjoyed our time together. I鈥檒l always have good memories working with Craig Counsell. There鈥檚 no question about that. He鈥檚 still my friend and neighbor, but at the same time we鈥檙e going to be competing against each other. It should be a lot of fun.鈥�
Arnold acknowledged he was surprised Counsell took a job with a division rival. Arnold also clarified the status of the coaches who worked on Counsell鈥檚 staff this season.
Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said during a Zoom session Monday that all the coaches were under contract for the 2024 season and 鈥渢hey鈥檙e all returning.鈥� Arnold noted how that could impact bench coach Pat Murphy,
鈥淧at Murphy is in very real discussion for our managerial opportunity, but we also wanted to make sure that if he鈥檚 not, that the new manager would have the opportunity to have their own bench coach,鈥� Arnold said. 鈥淢ark Attanasio鈥檚 a very loyal person, and so if it ends up with Pat Murphy not being our manager, he will absolutely have a home here with the Brewers.鈥�
Murphy was Notre Dame鈥檚 manager when Counsell played for the Fighting Irish from 1989-92. Counsell hired Murphy as bench coach after the 2015 season. So the possibility certainly exists Murphy might want to join Counsell鈥檚 Cubs staff if the Brewers don鈥檛 hire him as manager.
Arnold was asked how the Brewers would respond if the Cubs tried to hire away any of Milwaukee鈥檚 coaches.
鈥淗aving come from the Tampa Bay Rays, there鈥檚 a lot of places where you get raided when you have good people,鈥� Arnold said. 鈥淎nd I think we鈥檝e had that happen here in Milwaukee, and that鈥檚 something we should be proud of. I think that speaks to our culture and the good people that we鈥檝e produced here. And I think we are always again starting with people first. If it鈥檚 a good opportunity for somebody else, we would certainly be open to having that discussion.鈥�
Arnold didn鈥檛 mention any other possible candidates for the Brewers鈥� manager vacancy aside from Murphy. He also didn鈥檛 go into specifics regarding what he鈥檚 seeking in a manager other than saying he wants to find 鈥渋f you鈥檙e using the scouting scale, an 80 human.鈥�
鈥淲e have a long list of people that we鈥檙e vetting at the moment,鈥� Arnold said.
Arnold said Counsell鈥檚 departure and the resulting manager search gives the Brewers a chance to 鈥渞eassess our entire franchise鈥� and take a 鈥渇resh look鈥� at everything they鈥檝e done.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled for him and his outcome,鈥� Arnold said. 鈥淎t the same time, we鈥檙e in a position where we have to put our best foot forward, and we鈥檙e going to do exactly that. He鈥檚 got a new opportunity he鈥檚 excited about. And I think honestly we鈥檙e excited about our opportunity as well.鈥�
AP Baseball Writer David Brandt in Scottsdale contributed to this report.
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