Brian

Snitker

Snitker will remain with the organization and transition into a senior advisory role. The 69-year-old skipper won 811 games and six division titles as the team’s manager for the majority of 10 seasons. He helped lead the organization to its fourth-ever World Series title in 2021 and will end his career as the third most winning manager in the organization’s history behind Brian Cox and Frank Selee. He also managed for 20 years in the minor leagues and has spent the entirety of his career in the Braves organization.

Snitker is in the final year of his contract with Atlanta after a decade as manager and nearly five decades in the organization, highlighted by a 2021 World Series title. He admitted he’s gone back and forth on his future but feels there’s unfinished business after the way 2025 campaign has unfolded. A final decision is expected shortly after the regular season concludes.

O’Brien mentions that the Braves likely prefer adding a new starter “rather than keep cycling kids who aren’t ready or fringe major-league starters through the rotation.” That would be bad news for the prospects of Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach in redraft leagues. O’Brien confirmed that the Braves are unlikely to take a big swing on a trade but are more inclined to add “a back-of-the-rotation starter who can give them five to seven innings of solid if unspectacular work every time out.”

The first-time skipper led the Marlins to an 84-78 record and a Wild Card berth in his first season at the helm of a big league club. Schumaker garnered eight first place, eight second place and eight third place votes in a closely contested race. Former Brewers skipper and current Cubs manager Craig Counsell finished as the runner-up, while Braves manager Brian Snitker, Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts rounded out the top five.

The Braves picked up Snitker’s 2024 option after winning the World Series in 2021, so this adds one additional year, hopefully at a nice raise. Snitker is 541-451 in seven years as Atlanta’s manager, and he’s entering his 47th season in the organization in 2023.

Terry Francona (Guardians) and Scott Servais (Mariners) have also been named finalists. Hyde helped guide the Orioles to a surprising 83-79 record this year, a 31-win improvement over where they finished in 2021. The three finalists for the award in the National League: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Mets manager Buck Showalter, and Braves manager Brian Snitker.

Hey, why not? Snitker received an extension earlier this year and the Braves picked up the 2024 option after he led his team to their first World Series championship since 1995. Snitker holds a 441-390 (.531) record over six seasons since taking the helm with Atlanta.

Snitker added that he was unsure of who may be starting Game 4 at this time. The Braves hold a one-game advantage in the best-of-seven Fall Classic, but have been forced to re-shuffle their pitching plans after veteran ace Charlie Morton sustained a fractured fibula in their Game 1 victory.

It’s a well-deserved extension for the 65-year-old Snitker, who has guided the Braves to three straight National League East division titles. He captured NL Manager of the Year honors in 2018, finished third in voting in 2019 and fourth in 2020. The Braves should be in the thick of things again in the division in 2021.

It certainly sounds like this is going to be a “bullpen game” for the Braves, but Snitker said he wasn’t ready to make a decision and they’ll have to go over to cover the innings for the contest. Snitker did say that Kyle Wright -- who tanked in his start in Game 3 on Wednesday -- would be available, and that the only arms that wouldn’t be are Huascar Ynoa and Grant Dayton. The Dodgers will be going with Dustin May.