Only 6 MLB Managers Make As Much As Highest-Paid College Coach Tony Vitello: Report
August 27, 2024
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The $3 million salary Tennessee will pay Tony Vitello the next five years under the terms of an extension signed Friday reportedly drew gasps from an interested group of observers: MLB managers.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, only six managers in Major League Baseball make as much as Vitello: Craig Counsell of the Chicago Cubs, Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox, Bob Melvin of the San Francisco Giants, Bruce Bochy of the Texas Rangers, Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Davey Martinez of the Washington Nationals.
The contrast in visibility between baseball at the highest professional level and the collegiate level is stark.
In January, ESPN and the NCAA finalized an eight-year, $920 million contract that promised to pump new revenues into the college baseball ecosystem when it took effect Sept 1. MLB’s contract with ESPN reportedly pays the league $520 million per year through 2028.
Compared to the national platform enjoyed by MLB, college baseball is practically invisible. More than 57 million people attended MLB games last year, a number that’s already been surpassed in 2024.
Against this backdrop, it’s stunning that 24 managers would make less than the highest-paid college baseball coach — in spite of the broad range of recruiting, promoting, and managing duties that occupy a college coach’s day.
Who are the fortunate six?
1. Craig Counsell, Cubs
During his tenure with the small-market Milwaukee Brewers, Counsell led the team to five postseason appearances, including winning the NL Central Division title in 2018, 2021, and 2023. He holds the franchise record for managerial wins with 707 regular-season victories and is the longest-tenured manager in Brewers history. The Cubs (66-66) have struggled to remain competitive during Counsell’s first year in Chicago, but he recently displayed his acumen from the dugout, successfully appealing a routine intentional walk that led to an out:
2. Alex Cora, Red Sox
As ths Houston Astros’ bench coach from 2015-17, Cora was implicated in the sign-stealing scandal that led MLB to suspend him for one year. That still didn’t stop the Boston Red Sox from hiring Cora as their manager after the 2017 and 2020 seasons. Cora is 493-412 in six seasons as the Sox’s manager, including a surprising 67-64 record this season.
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers shakes hands with manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox before game three of the 2018 World Series on October… LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers shakes hands with manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox before game three of the 2018 World Series on October 26, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Roberts and Cora are two of the six highest-paid managers in MLB.
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
3. Bob Melvin, Giants
Melvin, 62, has managed parts of 21 seasons for the Seattle Mariners (2003-04), Arizona Diamondbacks (2005-09), Oakland A’s (2011-21), San Diego Padres (2022-23) and Giants. Along the way he’s won three Manager of the Year Awards, made eight postseason appearances, and compiled a 1517-1425 record. He made the rare leap from the Padres to the Giants last October after being granted permission to interview with a division rival.
4. Bruce Bochy, Rangers
Bochy, 69, has managed for 25 seasons in the major leagues, highlighted by his three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants (2010, 2012, 2014) and his 2023 championship with the Texas Rangers. He led the San Diego Padres to the World Series in 1998, losing to the New York Yankees. Bochy reached 2,000 wins as a manager in 2019.
5. Dave Roberts, Dodgers
Roberts’ .626 winning percentage is the best by any manager in American/National League history. The 2016 NL Manager of the Year, he’s guided the Dodgers to three pennants and one World Series championship, in 2020. Los Angeles (78-53) entered play Tuesday with the best record in Major League Baseball with an inside track to another No. 1 seed in the postseason.
6. Davey Martinez, Nationals
Martinez, 59, has overseen a dramatic turnover in 1,002 games as the Washington Nationals’ manager. After winning the World Series in 2019 — only his second year on the bench — Martinez’s team underwent a dramatic rebuilding effort, cutting ties with most players from their championship team. So far they’re 59-73 in 2024, his seventh season as manager.
More news: Houston Astros Sign Inspirational Former World Series Champion: Reports
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