This is not the way anyone wanted Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker's final season to go, but it does feel almost inevitable at this point. If Snitker doesn't retire after this season, it would be a significant upset at this point. Even if he decides to come back next season to try and get the stink of 2025 off, there is almost no world where he would stay longer than that and that means the Braves need to start planning for life after he retires.
There are a number of guys who seem like tremendous manager replacement options as well as a few that hopefully the Braves avoid when making their managerial decision. However, it appears as though the team may already be settling on the names for the top of their wishlist.
According to reporting from USA Today's Bob Nightengale, if Snitker does indeed decide to retire, Braves bench coach Walt Weiss and former Miami manager Skip Schumaker are frontrunners for the job.
Walt Weiss and Skip Schumaker are the frontrunners to replace Brian Snitker as Braves' manager
Now a lot can change between now and when the Braves' manager search begins, but these two names being at the top of Atlanta's list makes a lot of sense. Weiss is a known commodity with the Braves, is highly regarded, and has experience as a manager going back to his time with the Rockies. Perhaps not the most exciting option for a team in need of a spark, but continuity has it's benefits.
As for Schumaker, his departure from the Marlins seems to have been on his terms as he won NL Manager of the Year in 2023. Unfortunately for him, Miami is a bit of a joke of an organization and between the lack of roster support and the front office turmoil there, he just had enough. Neither should be a problem with the Braves and Schumaker does seem to know what he is doing and would be a fresh face.
While it is exciting to think about the next era of Braves baseball, one hopes that fans haven't forgotten how much Snitker has done for the franchise. His lineup decisions can be frustrating and his bullpen decisions wonky at time, Snit came in and took over a team in disarray and led them back to perennial contention and another World Series title. Whatever he decides, fans should wish him nothing but the best.