Many coaches earn less than world university coaches in ML supervisory salaries, why is Counsell the number one?

Dec 19, 2024

Craig Counsell Chicago Cubs manager is the highest-paid head coach in Major League Baseball. AP Yonhap News

L.A. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is doing a media day interview ahead of the World Series against the New York Yankees on October 25 (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

With the Los Angeles Dodgers deciding to negotiate an extension contract with manager Dave Roberts soon, extraordinary attention is being paid to the salary level he will receive.

This is because Roberts' salary is far less than what he has achieved so far. Major League Baseball does not disclose annual salary when announcing a contract with a manager. It is common for the media to inform the information obtained through coverage.

In this regard, Roberts' annual salary this season is $3.25 million, according to the U.S. sports culture media 'Front Office Sports'. It is only 11th out of 30 team coaches surveyed by the media.

First place is Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell. He reportedly signed a five-year, $40 million contract last winter when he moved from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Cubs. It earns an average annual salary of $8 million (AAV). It exceeded New York Yankees manager Joe Torre's previous record of $7.5 million in 2007, the highest salary for a coach.

Tori Lovello Arizona Diamondbacks director. AP Yonhap News

Arizona Diamondbacks coach Torrey Lovullo is followed by second place with $5 million. He was treated like this when he signed a two-year extension contract in November last year. Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is in third place with $4.5 million. Coach Bochy gave the club the joy of winning its first World Series as soon as he took the helm of Texas with a three-year contract last year.

Five players, including new Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington, Cleveland Guardians coach Stephen Boat, San Francisco Giants coach Bob Melvin, San Diego Padres coach Mike Shildt and Atlanta Braves coach Brian Snitker, are tied for fourth with an annual salary of $4 million.

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez ($3.5 million) is ninth, Yankees manager Aaron Boone ($3.3 million) is 10th, and Roberts is 10th.

L.A. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. AFP Yonhap News

In addition to the overall winning rate, the performance of advancing to the postseason and winning the World Series is a bargain. Roberts, who took the helm of the Dodgers in 2016, has marked 851 wins and 506 losses and a winning percentage of 0.627 in the regular season for nine years so far this year.

It is the number one winning percentage among coaches who have led more than 1,000 games in history. During this period, he won four NL champions and two World Series championships. In particular, the Dodgers have advanced to the fall baseball stage for 12 consecutive years since 2013, including nine years under Roberts. No. 11 except 2021 was the NL West's No. 1 qualification. Of course, there have been relatively many disappointments in the postseason, but $3.25 million cannot explain him.

How about Counsell. He was appointed as Milwaukee manager in 2015 and led for nine years until last year. He marked 707 wins and 625 losses (0.531) in Milwaukee and has only reached the postseason five times, including No. 1 in the NL Central, and has never advanced to the World Series. His best performance is to get on the NLCS in 2018 and kneel down to the Dodgers with 3 wins and 4 losses. It is incomparable to Roberts.

Chicago Cubs director Crake Counsell. AP Yonhap News

But why did the Cubs give him the highest annual salary as a coach in history. After last season, Counsell may have used Milwaukee, whose contract expired, as leverage in negotiations with the Cubs to stoke competition. Milwaukee also had no reason not to renew its contract with Counsell, who opened a golden era since its foundation in 1969. But there is a limit to that. In the end, I think the Cubs should be seen as a 'Mosheron' way. Counsell received a $3.5 million salary from Milwaukee in 2023. He was treated more than twice as much.

If so, there is no reason why Roberts should receive less than Counsell.

However, the value of a coach in the Major League is evaluated not only by the number of wins or winning percentage, but also by performance compared to power. Most of this year's manager winners selected by the BBWAA (National Baseball Journalists Association) are determined by how well they performed compared to their previous performance and how much they increased their team's winning rate compared to the previous season.

Still, it is no exaggeration to say that Roberts' salary so far has been ridiculous. In fact, the salaries of major league managers vary widely.

According to USA Today reporter Bob Nightingale's report in August 2023, six managers received less than $1 million in annual salary in the Major League that year, and 15 coaches received less than $1.5 million. At the time, Nightingale reporter 'Many university managers' salaries are higher than those of major league managers. The annual salary of 10 college coaches is more than $1.2 million, and the annual salary of Vanderbilt University coach Tim Corbyn is the highest at $2.47 million.

jhno@sportschosun.com