Craig Counsell’s record $8 million salary meets October pressure
The Chicago Cubs and manager Craig Counsell face the Milwaukee Brewers in a decisive NLDS Game 5 after Chicago rallied from a 0–2 deficit to even the series. Local coverage and league outlets report the Cubs plan to use an opener approach, with Drew Pomeranz tapped shortly before first pitch; Milwaukee counters after rookie Jacob Misiorowski helped seize the early series lead. The result will shape Counsell’s first full postseason with Chicago since joining in 2023.
Counsell’s record $8 million per year contract with the Cubs reset the managerial market. Multiple outlets confirm he agreed to a five-year, $40 million deal in November 2023, the largest guaranteed pact for an MLB manager at the time. The deal were announced that week as Chicago moved on from David Ross.
Industry trackers list the annual figure at $8,000,000, consistent with reporting from MLB.com, ESPN and major wires. Any incentives tied to postseason outcomes have not been disclosed publicly.
Public estimates vary widely. Two commonly cited ranges place Craig Counsell net worth between roughly $5 million and $18 million, reflecting prior playing earnings, managerial salaries, and endorsements. These figures are estimates, not audited disclosures, so treat them as directional rather than defintive.
Craig Counsell is a former MLB infielder and World Series contributor who became a highly regarded manager in Milwaukee before moving to Chicago. He joined the Cubs on Nov. 6–7, 2023, on a five-year contract. Before managing, he played primarily second base and shortstop, with time at third, batting left-handed and throwing right-handed.
As a player, Counsell appeared across infield positions—second base, shortstop, and third base—and is listed by Baseball-Reference at 6-0, 180 pounds, batting left and throwing right. He owns a long managerial résumé and previously set club records for success in Milwaukee, where he became the franchise’s winningest manager. Readers can reference Baseball-Reference for a full statistical log and seasonal splits.
Counsell dates joined the Cubs: early November 2023, immediately after the season, in a move that surprised both fanbases and made him MLB’s highest-paid manager at that moment. Chicago announced the hire as a five-year agreement worth about $40 million.
Craig Counsell wife Michelle has kept a low public profile while their family remained based in the Milwaukee area during his career. One of their children, Brady Counsell, was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th round (No. 303 overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft, while son Jack Counsell plays infield at Northwestern. These family notes have been reported by MLB and university outlets. Some fans may receieve updates via team channels more quickly than general news sites.
Counsell’s move to Chicago not only elevated the going rate for top managers; it also added subtext to this NLDS, pitting his Cubs against his former club. Whether Chicago advances or not, the contract has already influenced how teams value elite clubhouse leadership.
Craig Counsell’s five-year, $40 million Cubs contract set a record for MLB managers, paying $8 million annually, and now collides with October stakes as Chicago plays a winner-take-all NLDS Game 5 against Milwaukee. Estimates of his net worth vary, his playing career spanned multiple infield positions, he joined the Cubs in early November 2023, and his son Brady was drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2025.