CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Guardians have reportedly requested permission from the Milwaukee Brewers to speak with Craig Counsell about replacing Terry Francona as manager.
The Athletic, citing league sources, was first to report Cleveland’s interest.
The Guardians, as is their policy, have neither confirmed nor denied the report.
More Guardians coverage
Chancellor’s contract with the Brewers expires at the end of October. The Mets have already been given permission to talk to Counsell, where he could be reunited with David Stearns, the former Brewers executive.
There’s a chance Chancellor, a Wisconsin native, could stay with the Brewers. They announced they wanted to keep him.
Consulting would be an expensive signing. So far, the candidates interviewed by The Guardian are mostly major-league coaches with minor-league managerial experience. Some candidates never make it.
Under Counsell, the Brewers won the NL Central, but were upset in the wild-card round by World Series finalist Arizona. They have made the postseason five times since Counsell replaced Ron Roenicke as manager during the 2015 season.
In 1997, Counsell, playing for the Florida Marlins, helped beat Cleveland in Game 7 of the World Series. He tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and scored the winning run in the eleventh inning.
Francona announced at the end of the season that he would step down as coach after 11 years in Cleveland. He led Cleveland to the postseason six times.
Chancellor would be a good fit for attention in Cleveland. Milwaukee and Cleveland are similar-sized markets with analytically inclined front offices and tight payrolls.
“Alcohol enthusiast. Twitter ninja. Tv lover. Falls down a lot. Hipster-friendly coffee geek.”