ATLANTA — Although there was a year-long expectation this might be Brian Snitker’s ultimate season because the Braves’ supervisor, there’s nonetheless some uncertainty about who can be his successor.
Bobby Cox (1990-2010) and two of his disciples, Fredi Gonzalez (2011-16) and Snitker (2016-2025) account for the one three managers the Braves have had since halfway by means of the 1990 season. Atlanta gained 21 division titles, captured six Nationwide League pennants and gained two World Sequence trophies throughout this 35-year span.
Will the Cox lineage proceed with this subsequent managerial rent?
David Ross, Mark DeRosa, Walt Weiss and Eddie Perez are amongst Cox’s former Braves gamers who’ve curiosity within the emptiness. However there’s an opportunity Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will select a supervisor with none earlier ties to the group.
“You simply can’t rush it or pressure it,” Anthopoulos stated. “It’s a giant resolution. It’s a giant rent. You’d like to do it sooner quite than later. However each workforce going by means of this might inform you a similar factor.”
Although many followers have been devising their very own want lists over the previous few months, Anthopoulos stated as of Saturday morning, he hadn’t created his personal listing of candidates. He additionally stated if the method works as he hopes, the candidates’ names gained’t leak earlier than a rent is made.
Anthopoulos has began to do his due course of with background checks. Listed below are the names of some guys who might find yourself interviewing for the Braves job.
Ross: Earlier than he turned a clubhouse favourite at Fenway and Wrigley, the previous catcher was a beloved Courageous from 2009-12. He didn’t have any managerial expertise earlier than main the Cubs to a profitable file in two of his 4 seasons because the skipper on the North Facet.
If the Braves are retaining hitting coach Tim Hyers, Ross and Hyers developed friendship when the previous was a catcher and the latter was a Minor League coach in Boston’s group greater than a decade in the past.
DeRosa: This MLB Community star has come a good distance since being the quiet younger man who drew the favor of Chipper Jones, B.J. Surhoff and lots of different veteran Braves across the begin of this century. His lone managerial expertise got here as Staff USA’s skipper within the World Baseball Basic, however he’s an amazing communicator who may benefit from an skilled bench coach like…
John Gibbons: Earlier than serving because the Mets bench coach the previous two seasons, Gibbons was Anthopoulos’ supervisor in Toronto from 2013-15. The bond led to Gibbons being employed as a particular task scout for the Braves in 2020.
The 63-year-old Gibbons’ familiarity with Anthopoulos makes him an iteresting candidate to be the Braves’ subsequent supervisor or bench coach, particularly if Anthopoulos tabs a skipper with restricted managerial expertise.
Walt Weiss: Talking of bench coaches, Weiss was thought-about by some to be the manager-in-waiting as he spent the previous eight seasons as Snitker’s bench coach. Weiss beforehand served because the Rockies’ supervisor from 2013-16.
Given there was by no means any try by the Braves to push Snitker towards managing one other season, there’s purpose to query if Anthopoulos will select to go in a brand new route along with his managerial rent and most teaching workers positions.
Perez: The 1999 NLCS MVP was a scorching managerial candidate somewhat greater than a decade in the past. Even when the Braves go a special route with the supervisor and workers, there ought to seemingly be a training spot for Perez. The Braves dismissed catching coach Sal Fasano after final season. That opened the door for Perez to have a major impression on the defensive strides prime NL Rookie of the Yr candidate Drake Baldwin made this 12 months.
Ryan Flaherty: Flaherty’s star has risen since he spent a lot of the 2018 season serving as Nick Markakis’ carpool accomplice in Atlanta. The Cubs’ bench coach appears to be on the trail towards a profitable profession as a giant league supervisor.
George Lombard: It’s been a very long time since John Schuerholz took delight in luring Lombard away from his dedication to play operating again on the College of Georgia. Lombard at the moment serves because the Tigers’ bench coach. Like Flaherty, the Atlanta native is a highly-respected communicator who appears to have what it takes to be a profitable large league skipper.
Danny Lehmann: Anthopoulos was within the Dodgers’ entrance workplace when he crossed paths with LA’s present bench coach. Lehmann was serving because the workforce’s superior video scout on the time. His vital rise led him to his present position in 2023.
