Todd Rosiak

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

While the matter of a contract extension for Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell has yet to be addressed, his coaching staff will return in its entirety in 2017.

That announcement was made Tuesday by general manager David Stearns, who along with Counsell wrapped up the team's 73-89 season in a news conference at Miller Park.

"I think that speaks to both the quality of job we think they did throughout the major-league season and the continuity we’re looking to build throughout our entire organization," said Stearns. "Certainly, it’s a deserving group and we’re very pleased to have that group back."

The longest-tenured coach is Ed Sedar, who finished his 10th season with the Brewers, seventh as third-base coach and 25th overall in the organization. Darnell Coles wrapped up his second season as the team's hitting coach and sixth overall in the organization, and bullpen coach Lee Tunnell his fourth season as bullpen coach and eighth in the organization.

First-base coach Carlos Subero was in his first season as a major-league coach and third with the organization. Bench coach Pat Murphy, whose only previous major-league coaching experience came in 2015 as interim manager of the San Diego Padres, was in his first year with the organization. Pitching coach Derek Johnson and assistant hitting coach Jason Lane were new both to the major leagues and the Brewers.

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"I think we made strides," Counsell said of his staff. "I’m still hopeful and optimistic (the staff becoming a great one) is on the way to happening. I do think we have to be together to develop into great. We have to have continuity, and that’s what we’re on the path to.

"We’re directionally headed that way, but we need more time together to continue to do that like with everything else we’re doing. We got off to a really good start and there was reason to be excited about it."

With so many moving parts and young players on the major-league roster, Counsell and his staff had their work cut out for them as the Brewers embarked on Year 1 of their rebuild.

There were rough patches, such as the poor opening month turned in by the starting rotation, the sometimes careless base-running of Jonathan Villar and the defense leading the major leagues with 136 errors. But there was visible improvement in many areas during the season, and the Brewers were competitive down the stretch despite often facing more experienced and more talented teams.

"Our mantra for the year was to explore young players and give them a chance," said Counsell. "We had to develop them, and find guys and improve guys. We had to create competition, which I was really pleased about.

"Ultimately, we’re trying to get guys to perform at the top of what we think they can perform at. Part of the way you do that is by creating a culture. That allows guys to produce to their capabilities."

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Counsell, meanwhile, has a contract that runs through the 2017 season. Team principal owner Mark Attanasio said last month that Stearns would address Counsell's status – meaning a potential extension – in the off-season.

On Tuesday, Counsell and Stearns both discussed how their relationship has evolved over the last year.

"We both came into this with an open-minded approach," Counsell said. "We’ve been able to carry that through the entire season. We had the same goals in mind, and that really helps. Obviously, we’re not going to always 100% agree on how to reach those goals, but we’ve been able to talk through the hundreds of decisions we have to collectively make over the course of the season.

"I think our relationship has been very productive."

Said Stearns: "I'd echo those comments. "There’s no drama. It’s good conversation; it’s pushing each other. It’s moving it forward. That’s what it has been. It’s really very simple. That’s the best way to put it. We challenge each other.

"To me, that’s the way it should be."



Roster moves: The Brewers announced that third baseman Will Middlebrooks and relievers Sam Freeman and Michael Kirkman have elected free agency.

Middlebrooks hit .111 in 10 games while Freeman pitched in seven games and Kirkman one. Freeman and Kirkman both spent the majority of the season at Class AAA Colorado Springs.

Also, Stearns said that outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis (sports hernia) was the only member of the season-ending roster who would be undergoing surgery in the off-season.