Multiple reports suggest that a World Series-winning manager in the National League might be nearing the end of his tenure. As the 2025 Major League Baseball regular season comes to a close, Atlanta Braves fans should appreciate manager Brian Snitker while he is still at the helm.
Snitker brought a title to Atlanta in 2021. He’s been with the Braves organization since 1977, when he was a minor league player, and when his playing career ended in 1980, he remained with the organization as a coach.
Snitker eventually worked his way up to the third base coach of the Braves and was made interim manager in 2016 when Fredi González was canned. Snitker took full advantage of this opportunity, excelling as manager and getting his interim tag removed within a few months of holding the position. In ten seasons, Snitker led the Braves to seven postseasons and brought home the aforementioned World Series.
Now, it appears Snitker might be ready to walk away from his position. A new report from ESPN’s Buster Olney indicates that Snitker’s inner circle believes the 69-year-old manager will step down following this season. Per Olney, Snitker hasn’t made any definitive statements about his future with the Braves, but did recently talk about “spending time with his grandkids and places where he’d like to travel.”
Another report from The Athletic’s David O’Brien cited a decidedly vague quote from Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos on Snitker’s future:
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“I mean, look, Snit’s going to be in this organization forever. I’m not the owner, obviously; Terry McGuirk is in that role as chairman. Snit will be part of this organization no matter what, well past when I’m here. He’s Braves for life. So those are things we always address at the end of the year. We sit down, we talk about staff, we talk about all those things. So our focus the entire year has been on the year, get through the season. All those things are things that we always address in the offseason.”
If Snitker does decide to step down, the Braves job will be coveted, as noted by Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells on Wednesday.
“If the Braves job comes open, it figures to be one of the most sought-after positions for managerial candidates,” Wells wrote. “Even with their rough showing this season, their core of Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, Sean Murphy, Matt Olson and Austin Riley are all under contract in 2026. … Chris Sale seems almost certain to be back next season since the Braves hold an $18 million team option on his deal.”
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There’s no reason why Sale and Co. can’t return to contender status next season. The Braves just need to stay healthy, and whoever lands with the club as its new manager — barring a Snitker return — will be expected to make the playoffs, and then some. Such is the standard for a perennial winner like Atlanta.