Cubs' New Manager Craig Counsell Poised to Attract Top Free Agents

Cubs' Financial Flexibility and Counsell's Track Record Expected to Drive Success

Craig Counsell, the new manager of the Chicago Cubs, was officially announced by the team on November 13, after a five year, $40 million deal was negotiated to pull him away from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Counsell's hiring could make Chicago an even more appealing place for free agents, with the Cubs rumored to be linked to Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto in potential blockbuster trades.
The Cubs are well-situated to spend this offseason, with a team payroll of $168.7 million, well under the base luxury tax threshold of $237 million set for next season.
Counsell's success as manager of the Brewers for the past nine seasons, where Milwaukee had a winning record six times, is expected to translate to success with the Cubs, an organization with a larger payroll and the ability to bring in premier free agents.
Despite the firing of well-liked and well-respected manager David Ross, the Cubs' front office has sent an important message to players looking for a new home, signaling their willingness to make hard decisions in order to contend again.