The Braves will have a new manager in 2026. Brian Snitker has informed the team that he will not continue in the dugout beyond the 2025 season, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. Snitker will remain with the organization as a senior advisor but will hand over the reins in the dugout to a new hire. The Braves formally announced the decision just minutes after Passan’s report and added that Snitker will be inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame prior to a game next season.
The 69-year-old Snitker has spent the past decade as the Braves’ manager but has been in the organization for a staggering 49 years. He’s previously managed at nearly every minor league level in the system and held roles as the major league bullpen coach and third base coach.
Snitker was named interim manager in May 2016, when the organization dismissed then-skipper Fredi Gonzalez, who’d been on the job since 2011. Snitker quickly shed the interim label that offseason after an Atlanta club that started the season in a 9-28 swoon rallied to a more respectable 59-65 showing. Snitker signed a two-year contract to see the team through a rebuild but emerged as a mainstay in the dugout on the other side of that youth movement. The Braves won 90 games in 2018, leading to not only their first postseason appearance in five years — but an NL Manager of the Year win for Snitker.
Atlanta has since extended Snitker multiple times. The Braves organization lifer has compiled an 811-668 record as the big league skipper, overseen seven postseason berths (including six straight division titles) and, of course, guided the team to a victory in the 2021 World Series. He’ll step down as the skipper with the second-most wins in Atlanta Braves history, trailing only Bobby Cox’s 2,149. (Frank Selee’s 1,004 wins for the then-Boston Beaneaters in the late 1800s technically stand as second in franchise history.)
The 2025 season was the final year on Snitker’s contract. Between that and the fact that he’ll turn 70 later this month, he’s faced plenty of questions and speculation about his future throughout the season. He’s remained noncommittal and focused on his duties in the dugout but never firmly dismissed the possibility of continuing on as manager. Similarly, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said late in the season that he had “absolutely not” begun laying groundwork for a potential managerial search, calling the notion of doing so “completely disrespectful” to Snitker and his legacy within the organization.
Anthopoulos will now embark in earnest on a managerial search. Incredibly, the new hire will be just the fourth Braves manager since 1990. Cox led the team from 1990-2010, with Gonzalez stepping in from 2011-16 and Snitker helming the club since. It’s commonplace in situations like this for an organization to allow its coaching staff to at least explore new opportunities, as a new manager will generally be given plenty of say over the rest of his dugout staff. That’s not to suggest that Atlanta will have an entirely new cast of coaches next year; some members of the current staff may even be considered for the newly created vacancy. Bench coach Walt Weiss, for instance, has four years of major league managing experience and has served as Snitker’s right-hand man since 2018.
Snitker’s decision to step down means there are now a remarkable eight teams in search of a new manager this offseason — with the possibility for further turnover still existing, depending on the decisions of clubs still alive in the postseason. The Nationals, Orioles and Rockies all finished the 2025 season with interim managers after firing their skippers midseason. The Twins and Giants fired Rocco Baldelli and Bob Melvin following the season. The 2025 season was the final year of Bruce Bochy’s contract in Texas, and he won’t return to the Rangers in 2026. And the Angels, who elevated Ray Montgomery to interim manager after Ron Washington required midseason heart surgery, have announced that neither Montgomery nor Washington will return to their club next year. This winter will be the most active offseason in recent history with regard to managerial activity.
Thanks Snit for all the good years, Schumacher?
Working for the Rangers. You’ll need to look elsewhere.
Isn’t it only lateral moves that are restricted from interviewing other teams’ personnel? If Schumacher is an advisor in Texas, shouldn’t he be able to interview for an open managerial position?
I’m sure Schumacher will head the list for the rangers and rightfully so but if he wants to explore other vacancies I’m sure he’ll interview of the braves have interest
wait I didnt even see your username before commenting. Excuse me, I have to uh….go return some tapes
Hopefully someone not currently on the staff or in the minors.
Schumacher would be great…. There was a time David Ross was clamored for here in Atlanta, maybe he’s an option as well?
Joe Maddon!
(JK)
Tony La Russa
*Schumaker, “Schumacher” is a 7-time F1 world champion
At least he’s not leaving in a snit.
🤨🤨
Helluva run. Thank you Snit
Walt Weiss get the job?
What Weiss would have been a good interim manager if Brian was fired in season but having Walt Weiss long-term would just Snitker 2.0. They need to go younger
Not so sure Snitker 2.0 would be all that bad – over 800 wins, and possibly most significant his record this year with a AAAA pitching staff. Weiss is a solid baseball man whose only managerial shot was at Colorado, a team with four winning seasons in the last 20 years – a job he wisely walked away from for his gig with the Braves
Please NO!!!!
Please No. Nothing against Weiss at all we just need a new fresh voice outside of the organization…I constantly hear the ‘Braves way’ and not exactly sure what’s meant by that, but maybe its time they revamp that mindset.
Same when I hear ‘Rays Way’ from Rays fans who are happy with a playoff appearance and no World Series wins.
Our last three “fresh voices” were Bobby Wine, Russ Nixon and Chuck Tanner. The Braves seem to thrive on promoting organizational men.
From over 40 years ago? When the Braves were constantly in last place?….That’s a very obscure point of reference for a counter argument lol 🙂
Ted Turner managed one game for the Braves in the 70s, so they also got that going for promoting organization men too
One would have to think the job is Walt’s, unless he has already taken his name out of consideration.
Seems logical. I was hoping Schumacher might make it back to the Cardinals somehow but that doesn’t seem logical. Looks like a perfect match!
Schumacher is a senior adviser with TEX, where there is now a vacancy. Someone said he was next in line.
Ahhh I didn’t even think about Bochy stepping down…Schumacher is probably not an option at all for the Braves now I’d imagine.
Mark DeRosa wouldn’t be a bad choice either
Apparently DeRosa is not liked by several on here because he’s just a ‘talking head’…I’m not opposed either way.
I’d say David Byrne, but he was a Talking Head as well.
he would be in the dugout asking himself, “how did I get here??”
Stop making sense.
That’s priceless!
DeRosa to me comes off as a guy who is full of himself.
Not sure he would want a job like that lot of time away from home and got a good job right now
Braves have albies
After DeRosa’s derogatory comments (earlier this season on MLB TV) about the Braves players under long term contractual extensions “not playing w/fire, heart, etc.” he’d probably be as welcome in the Braves clubhouse as a t…d in a swimming pool.
But they weren’t playing with fire. Where was he wrong? What was their record in 1-run games? (If there was one stat that was emblematic of 2025’s team, it’s that one). And honestly, Snit stepping down, imho, may even acknowledge that. Don’t you think that if he had any desire to return, for his 50th org season, he’d do it?
The internal names mentioned don’t move the needle, especially if they were a part of 2025, which showed no fight, little desire, and so much organizational complacency. Injuries should not be the distraction from the inconsistency when healthy (Harris, Albies, Riley, Profar, Murph, etc.)
Wasn’t my point about how they were playing. Meant why the Braves clubhouse wouldn’t welcome a talking head who trashed them on tv. DeRosa didn’t talk s…t about the pitching staff (except Strider) or pen who also played a HUGE role in those 1 run losses. He deliberately crapped on Riley, Olson, and Harris—-and I’m not saying he was totally wrong. I simply believe that the guys he s…t on won’t have any interest in playing for him.
I’ll add that DeRosa meant that Braves players who’ve been extended don’t care because they’ve already got their money. Imo, he’s full of s..t. He doesn’t deserve to be in charge of anything. Olson, Riley, Harris II, Strider, Albies, and Murphy don’t care? BS.
What Derosa said and frankly Strider himself said was absolutely correct….They didn’t play with any fire and they’re basically a bad team, not ‘underperforming’ just flat out bad (paraphrasing Strider but close]
There’s a difference between someone on MLB Network and a manager/coach letting you know how much you don’t care though
@Nashville — I remember seeing that segment and didn’t get that from it, but it’s been awhile. That being said, I think that’s a part of what’s missing — someone telling them the truth, that they respect, to get more out of them. We keep talking about this team having unlimited, controllable talent, yet the most productive they’ve ever been (’21) was when they had a bunch of castoffs that overproduced. Sure, no Fried/Dansby/Freeman, but the team needs more of a voice in the clubhouse whether it be a manager and/or player. I love Riley/Olson, but they don’t seem to be that. Acuña isn’t that now (maybe never will be). I don’t care so much about these guardians of “The Braves Way” as much as guys that look like they give a s—.
I think all of those guys you mentioned are pros and wouldn’t see that segment, but I don’t think DeRo would be fully considered for it to be a talking point.
Yeah the Braves won the WS in 21, but they were one of the worst regular season teams of Snit’s tenure. Loved how it ended that year, but that team wasn’t “the most productive they’ve ever been.” That’s just my pov. I don’t consider a team a failure if they don’t win the short sample sized crapshoot playoffs. I’m not really sure what you mean by “guys that look like they give a s-.” Guys who scream, curse, and throw things when they strike out? Players who lose control and punch walls—like Ynoa—or kick coolers and break their foot—Kelenic…..? Some of my favorite players have been cool, calm, pros like Hank Aaron, Felipe Alou, Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, Maddux (heh—most of the time), and current Braves Riley and Olson. I don’t know how any of the Braves act in the clubhouse. None of us here do. Riley, Olson, and Acuna seem to be quiet personalities. They still produce when they’re healthy. Inconsistency is part of every ML player’s profile. Nobody’s good from start to finish in a baseball season every year (yeah, ok, Ohtani….) I also don’t believe grown men, professional athletes need someone screaming at them to “motivate” them. Not sure who you’re calling “guardians of ‘The Braves Way'” on the current roster. Btw—-I named “all of those guys” because DeRosa explicitly called out the Braves who’d received extensions as the players who weren’t giving enough effort to suit him. Anyway—thanks for the conversation Run. I may not always agree w/exactly what you think ( I do 98% of the time though lol), but I respect your opinions very much. Anyway—- Wednesday’s fishing day and I have to head to the lake. Have a good one.
“guys that give a s—” = gritty, scrappers, etc. Do whatever necessary to win at all costs. Guys that do it with passion and you can tell it means something to them.
Silly to think that there’s not a difference between that and the examples of rookies losing their cool (Ynoa, Kelenic — when they injured themselves). There’s an obvious difference. Dansby is a good example of guys playing with passion. I wasn’t always his #1 fan, but between him, Fried/Freeman — all 3 of those guys characterize what I’m talking about, that seem to be what 2025’s team really lacked.
The “plays with passion” argument is a bit of an issue for me because, sans Anthony Rendon, I think every player does. It takes a level of passion to show up to the park every day, 162 games a year- and for the travel, and everything else.
I completely understand some people wanting to see competitive fire from players, but everyone is different. Personally, I prefer to see players having fun- and I think it’s more condusive to winning. I’ve long held the belief that’s what has been missing in Atlanta is Joc Pederson, or a personality like his. He kept the team loose during that World Series run.
Sure Freeman and Fried had great seasons with their teams and Dansby had his best year with the Cubs so far. But would any of them lift the spirit of this year’s Braves club? Freeman and Fried regularly disappointed in the playoffs with the Braves (except 2021). and I much as I like Swanson I think the Cubs way overpaid on him. And look at 2022 Swanson and Fried were still with the team then, Why didn’t the Braves win back to back championships if they were the x factor making the team great?
There is passion and talent, not every talented player plays with passion. But you can’t blame bad playoff performances on lack of passion. There is not too much difference between playoff teams, so getting the right starter on any given day, hitting that fly ball a little harder or further, avoiding a costly error or taking the extra base can sometimes mean the difference between losing and winning.
Eh, Mark DeRosa wouldn’t be a good choice, either. I completely understand why some folks like him as a candidate because he sounds knowledgeable when you listen to him talk about the game, but a lot of former players are knowledgeable about the game. Based on nothing but that, I’d hire Josh Donaldson because I could listen to him talk about hitting every day. Knowledge and leadership are different, however.
Given the expectations for the team, I don’t want to see a first time manager at the helm. More specifically, with DeRosa, I don’t get the impression his personality would be a good fit.
I agree. I think the only possible Rookie Manager I would want is Chipper Jones, but he does not want the job.
I’d only hire DeRosa if Lauren Shehadi is bench coach…
As much as I appreciate everything Snitker has done for the organization during his long tenure, I definitely believe this was the right move. There was time this season he seemed disinterested, and unfocused.
Very much agree….Schumacher maybe?
To be honest there are a lot of potential candidates.
For the record I don’t think guys like Mark DeRosa, Eddie Perez, Chipper or even BMac will get serious consideration or don’t want it.
I also strongly believe that Bochy will end back up in SF.
That still leaves a lot of good candidates.
In my opinion whoever they bring in needs some old school toughness and fire mixed with some new school understanding of analytics. Someone who can relate to the players but also earns their respect through integrity and consistency.
Best odds on Weiss, imo.
Congrats Snit on retirement, but for the love of God, no Walt Weiss!! In fact, dismiss the entire staff and start over.
THANK GOD
I hear Chipper Jones is looking for something to do besides burning down his neighborhood. Bring in old grump Smoltz as pitching coach.
I would not be shocked if they didn’t wait until the post season to grab a Bobby Dickerson type who is a long overdue underboss on a successful team elsewhere.
Enjoy your well-earned retirement, Coach!
1 day of playoffs & 4 managerial openings. Is that an unusually hi # so far?
I think that is around normal in sports 3-5 openings per year. There were 5 new managers this year and 6 in 2024
Sports teams need to be more competitive with a lot more going on. Turning in losing seasons doesn’t help. Some of its organizational changes, giants, twins. Colorado broke the modern record with the worst run differential. How that manger is still in place is questionable, but there’s not much of a team to work with.
Brian McCann
catchers seem to make good managers but I think he is enjoying golf and retirement too much.
Have you heard Brian McMcann in interviews the last few years?…he seems like he’s having fun just hanging outside of baseball drinking beer, hunting and living life….Long shot.
And BMac, whim I used to respect, was a part of the cheating Astros team. Suggests a lack of character. Every member of that team should have been banned from baseball.
The market is being flooded with older managers with recent WS wins
Braves Legend
Ron Washington’s heart just skipped a beat
I believe Wash would be great to bring in as a bench coach if he wanted that role, but in all seriousness his health is a major concern.
Quadruple bypass and 74 in April….Snit was too young at 69!
Is it too much to ask for someone not drawing social security…president/manager…whatever?
He doesn’t want the job, his heart is just skipping beats after surgery
No thank you
Mark DeRosa would be an awesome manager. He is young enough that he can relate to a lot of the players, and he seems to have that competitive fire that the Braves have been needing. Has great knowledge of the game and just seems to be a good fit. But anyway, thank you Snit for all the great memories, and for the WS championship in 2021. He will always be right there with Bobby Cox as the best managers in this franchise.
DeRosa or Ross, please!
Alex likes Gibby(John Gibbons)
It’s the correct move. Org change = players shake up due as well. Might be a ex Yankee Mgr coming over? Showalter, Girardi, Mattingly? Depends on if Boone gets fired after playoffs, as they could pick 1.
Nice guy but not the brightest bulb.
I don’t think it was his intelligence that was the issue, I just think his management style didn’t always translate to the way the game is now. Sure he’s had his share of boneheaded decisions (but who hasn’t?) but I think he also had his triumphs. That being said, I think it was time for a change, but I’m also thankful for his time with the organization.
No on mattingly. He was a direct coach in miami
John Gibbons, come on downnnn
Not a Braves fan at all but I have always liked Snitker
Alright, Ronald. Now that Freddie and Snit are gone. You should feel safe and welcomed in the clubhouse.
After two bad seasons,ready for a Snitker replacement. Need some new blood but don’t want to upset the star players with the pick.
Thank you Jesus! Just another Bobby Cox. Teams loaded with talent and bad pitching management. Next up! Hopefully from someone who isn’t always napping.
As much as I loved Snit this is a much needed move. Our shortcomings the past 2 seasons have been painful to watch. Hopefully a new voice on the bench will bring a 3rd Commissioners Trophy -which needs to be renamed badly but I digress.
Travis D’Arnaud
I don’t know if I’d love that hire for the manager position, but as a potential bench coach, absolutely.
I’ll forever be grateful for his time. 2021 was a great year for Braves fans and dawgs fans and I wish I could go relive those moments. They feel like yesterday. Heck of a run for Snit!
Good riddance. Another Cox clone. Team won in spite of him. Should have been canned after the 2019 NLDS debacle.
Then they probably wouldn’t have made it to 2021…
Only one choice. Chipper Jones will be the next manager of the Atlanta Braves. Managing the NlL Futures was his audition. When asked about the possibility, Chipper said some interesting, funny, and well-measured things:
“I keep asking myself, why would any general manager, especially here in Atlanta, want to hire me for a fireable spot?” Jones said. “Would you want to be the general manager that has to fire me? That’s a bad PR move. I mean, if you’re asking me, so I think I’ve got my foot in the door, just enough where both sides kind of dig it right now.”
There are 1000 acres of wiggle room in that statement. And Chipper or no Chipper, put up a couple of losing seasons and someone’s getting fired pal; fans would get that. But, how about a nice new string of division titles instead with everybody’s favorite Brave? Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s #10 in your program, but #1 number one in your hearts. Let’s go! Talk about butts in seats….
And the respect of the team….
It’s a no-brainer.
Chipper has said a million times he doesn’t wanna manage. He’s got like 800 sons and hunting season that are more important to him than managing the Braves.
Chipper doesn’t want it. Lots of Hooters waitresses still out there…
But I’d be all for it. Him being the manager, I mean.
It’ll be John Rocker.
That would be one of the moves of all time
A ludicrous thought if ever there was one. If they ever do a 5th season of Eastbound and Down, gimme Kenny as a manager.
Why wouldn’t Selee count on the franchise’s managerial wins list? Unlike other stats from the 1800s that generally aren’t recognized due to major differences in the game rules, team wins were still team wins. Selee was even at a disadvantage with fewer games played per season.
If the Tigers don’t win in playoffs. Add Hinchs name to that list with Bob Melvins name to possible replacement
Hinch was also a part of the corrupt Astros team, indicating a lack of character.
Thanks for 2021 and for righting the ship after Fredi’s disastrous tenure, but it was time for him to go. He was checked out all year and it was obvious and then he has been wishy washy about coming back because the team was playing well down the stretch. I am not gonna believe he actually chose to retire and that AA and ownership didn’t tell him he wasn’t going to manage next season and offered him a nice cozy gig instead.
Please for the love of Hank Aaron and Dale Murphy, go outside the organization for the next guy.
Derek Shelton is waiting by the phone. He says he learned from his mistakes and will do better next time. Pinky swear.
I’m surprised I’ve only seen it twice, but I have a feeling John Gibbons is going to be the next manager. AA loves him and he was his manager for the majority of his time as GM in Toronto.
walt weiss woul;d seem like safest choice for next braves manager..im hoping EY at least gets considered..ive heard a lot about skip schumacher as possiblity, if we talking guys with no ties to braves franchise don mattingly should be first in that line..i would love the next manager be someone who played for bobby cox..dave martinez, ozzie guillen, david ross..i do hope i live long enough to see a black man as manager of braves..over 150 years and zero black managers is ridiculous..i do think we need a manager who had some kind of major league career as player..good luck hunting alex anthopoulos..he’s been waiting a long while to be able to pick his guy to be manager..go braves!
I could see the Braves interviewing George Lombard or Billy McMillon for the job.
Internally Walt Weiss is probably the safe choice and Eddie Perez may also get an interview
I think Mike Redmond deserves another chance and how has Billy Ripken and DeRosa not been given a shot yet.
One more thought before I head to the lake. Imo, Weiss will probably be the next Braves manager, but I wonder if AA would consider Travis d’Arnaud for the job? Have the feeling that Travis will make some team a pretty good manager.
Long overdue! My best candidates to
replace Snitker are:
Larry Jones
Mark DeRosa
A J Pierzynski
Brian McCann
Longshots: Ron Washington, Travis d’Arnaud
I would add John Smoltz and Tom Glavine,
but very few MLB Pitchers have been successful MLB Managers with the exception of Tommy Lasorda. Plus, I don’t think the Braves would offer Smoltz as much as he makes with Fox Sports! A J probably doesn’t make near as much with Fox as Smoltz!
Also, Catchers seem to make good managers!
A J Pierzynski would make
a fiery manager, like shot out
of a cannon instead of laid back Snit.
Please, No Walt Weiss or Freddie Gonzales!
Either of them would be Snit 2.0, whom was AKA Bobby Cox 2.0.!! Yes, Bobby Cox was loved(?) by his players(?) as well as Snitker(?), but neither one of them could win in the playoffs! ONE Lousy title for each of Cox and Snit, but those 2 titles came with a whole lot of yearly crappy disappointing postseason results mostly created by poor managerial decisions!
Chipper, AJ, D’Arnaud, McCann, and Glavine would be my preferences. I am not against Weiss and I think too many assume him to be Freddie 2.0, but I am not certain of that.
I am one who feels Cox, Freddie and Snit were all disappointments. Cox had a top 3 talent team year in and year out, and only brought home one WS. Freddie had mediocre talent at best compared to Cox and Snit, but I didn’t feel he would have gotten it done anyway. Snit had one of the best talent collections in Braves history for a decade and could only post a single WS, that I would give more credit to the Braves front office.
My preference would probably be Ross, but I have always thought highly of Glavine, though I have not heard him ever mentioning it as something he would be interested in.
DeRosa makes me cringe when he is on TV, but he is a bright guy. I did not think that negatively of his earlier comments and some of the Braves that people are feeling upset for might actually agree with him and step up.
Schumacher will take the Rangers gig if offered. Gibbons would be an interesting choice. Best one I believe is David Ross, who did a nice job in his first opportunity for Cubs, with not much to work with. They dropped him for the popular girl on the dance floor in Counsell.
It will be a sought after position compared to other vacancies that are out there. Braves are loyal to their people and that’s why people want to be there. It has to be a guy that brings instant respect or have a super strong and respected coaching staff. If it ain’t Dero, Schumacher, or Ross you know those dudes want Wash and EY
back. Chipper, McCann, and others don’t want to do the job. I’d keep Kranitz but Tim Hyers gotta go. Nobody wants Weiss in the seat.
Why?
What does that even mean? Atlanta Braves is an iconic name, offensive to no one.
Pull one of the Covid masks you’re wearing up over your eyes and you won’t have to look at the name or the logo. Problem solved…
Good one, Chipper!
Former Braves backstop Brian McCann would be a top choice if he wants the job. He’d bring in a bunch of ex-Bravos with MLB experience like DeRosa as well.
If you’re building the alumni softball all-century team, then sign me up.
JUST BUILD SNIT A MOUND IN HIS FRONT YARD SO HE CAN GO TO THE MOUND ON HIS WAY TO THE MAILBOX & BACK TO THE MOUND BEFORE SITTING BACK DOWN IN THE FRONT PORCH ROCKING CHAIR!
Could look into some of the White Sox famed former managers, Terry Bevington, Gene Lamont, Robin Ventura and Pedro Griffol all come to mind.
Buck Showalter is my top choice. 🙂
I was hoping Wash would come back for one more year with Snit and they could wrap it up together (hopefully with a deep run into the post season)!
2 Great guys who gave me many good memories.
Thank you, gentlemen!
gimme David Ross or go complete wild card with Andruw Joines
Walt Weiss or Chipper Jones for fletcher one for the job.
Either one for the job – auto correct
Eddie Perez
Change your IQ level.
Top Choice: Tony Vitello. Outside of the box and would bring a renewed energy the Braves seem to need. Risky, sure, but I love the idea.
David Ross
I am not opposed at all to Walt being given an opportunity like some are, and I do have high respect for Bob Melvin.
I do hope Wash is brought back into the fold if he’s interested, although Fredi was ok at 3rd too, but Wash will get that infield working and he’s good for the team. I do hope EP is retained and also Kranitz.
Skip Schumaker, although he’s the favourite for the Rangers job.
Outside that I doubt Chipper wants the gig. I wouldn’t mind seeing Eric Young back at 1st either.
TP I would love to come back, but it has probably passed him by now.
Interesting times ahead.
Never.going.to.happen.
I’m hoping from the lack of immediate action that an automatic promotion of Weiss or anyone current is off the table. It’s time to start over. Only person I’d want back is Wash as a coach.
Snitker a stinker who knew (who knew?)
I could see Rocco Baldelli end up as the new manager for the Atlanta Braves.
It is never the manager’s fault a team underperformed. Managers do not make any decisions. All the decisions are made by computer software.