Could the Mets get into a bidding war for this MLB manager?

The New York Mets might not be finished raiding the cupboard of the Milwaukee Brewers just yet.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Thursday that the Mets could potentially get into a bidding war with the Brewers for manager Craig Counsell, who is in the last year of his contract. Heyman writes that the Brewers plan to start contract talks with Counsell after the postseason. They previously deferred those discussions last spring. That may set the stage for a competition for Counsell between the Brewers and spend-happy Mets.

For the Mets, the immediate connection is an obvious one. They just hired longtime Brewers executive David Stearns to serve as their new president of baseball operations. Stearns was in charge of Milwaukee’s front office from 2015-22 and Counsell was the only manager with whom he ever worked. The Mets may also be thinking about a longer-term future, as current skipper Buck Showalter is one of the oldest managers in baseball at 67 years old (with his contract expiring after the 2024 season).

Counsell, 53, might not necessarily be keen to leave Milwaukee since he has succeeded there. Not to mention that Counsell is a Midwest native. But if the Mets write the check for Counsell, giving him the opportunity for an upward move to a big market with a familiar front-office boss, it may be tough for the very in-demand manager to say no.