The Chicago Cubs fired manager David Ross on Monday and hired Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell as his successor.
Counsell's contract is for five years and $40 million, the highest salary for any MLB manager ever, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by The Athletic.
"Today we made the difficult decision to dismiss David Ross as our Major League Manager," Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said in a statement. "On behalf of the Cubs organization, we express our deep gratitude for David's contributions to our club, both on and off the field. First as a player and then as a manager, David continually showcased his ability to lead. David's legacy will be felt in Chicago for generations and his impact to our organization will stack up with the legends that came before him."
Counsell will be introduced by the Cubs early next week, the team said.
Counsell, 53, had also interviewed for the New York Mets' and Cleveland Guardians' managerial openings. The Guardians hired Stephen Vogt as manager, and sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan that the Mets are hiring New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as their manager.
In nine years with the Brewers, Counsell won three NL Central titles and managed Milwaukee to the postseason in five of the past six years, including a division-winning 92-70 mark in 2023. He was 707-625 overall with the Brewers during the regular season and 7-12 in the postseason. His 707 regular-season wins and 7 playoff victories are both franchise records.
Counsell's 16-year MLB playing career included two stints with the Brewers (2004, 2007-11). He won World Series rings with the 1997 Florida Marlins and 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, and he was part of the 2008 Brewers team that earned Milwaukee its first playoff appearance since its 1982 World Series berth.
The Cubs finished 83-79 last season, second behind the Brewers.
ESPN's Buster Olney, Jeff Passan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.