The Atlanta Braves have a tough task of finding a manager to take over next season. With Brian Snitker stepping away from managing, Atlanta will have to find just their fourth manager in 35 years.
Finding a suitable replacement manager is not going to be easy as the Braves have a very well-established clubhouse at this point. Whoever comes in next will have to understand the culture Atlanta expects and continue to cultivate that culture while helping the team take steps forward. There are some internal candidates to consider, but with Alex Anthopoulos allowing the current coaches to seek jobs elsewhere, it feels like they won't be going that route.
Atlanta won't be rushing the decision, according to Alex Anthopoulos in a recent interview with Braves insider Mark Bowman. “It’s a big decision. It’s a big hire. You’d love to do it sooner rather than later. But every team going through this would tell you the same thing.”
The hard part about this is that there are a lot of candidates to sift through. Even then, you never know if the one you choose is going to be the right fit. Then you have to get used to a new coaching staff. It's going to be a tough transition all around.
The sheer of potential Brian Snitker replacement candidates for the Braves is getting out of hand
Bowman recently released a list of candidates he believes should be in the running after his talk with AA. Atlanta hasn't released any information about potential candidates, and we won't know who they choose until they want us to.
Walt Weiss and David Ross are two of the primary names mentioned. Both are familiar with the "Braves Way" and have experience managing. And as you see, they're at the top of the list with the best odds to become the next manager.
The name I've now heard from a few people is on this list but not near the top. FYI. Have fun! https://t.co/3Rypfs5rXA
— Scott Coleman (@scottcoleman55) October 7, 2025
Fredi Gonzalez being near the top is almost laughable. There's no way the Braves would bring him back after all the bad memories before Snit took over. Schumaker has already been hired by the Rangers, so he is no longer an option either. But let's take a look at a few names mentioned by Bowman as potential fits.
There are a couple more former Braves mentioned as candidates. That would be Mark DeRosa and Eddie Perez. DeRosa is well-known for his work on MLB Network and has limited managerial experience with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Perez has been with the Braves organization for a while now as a player and coach. The players would be very familiar with him, but he doesn't feel like the right fit to lead the club.
For outside candidates, Bowman lists four names that could make sense. John Gibbons is the first, and AA is very familiar with him as he managed the Blue Jays from 2013 to 2015. Gibbons has been with the Mets as their bench coach for the past two years and may want another shot at managing.
Ryan Flaherty is another former Brave who could manage. He is currently the bench coach for the Cubs, who are battling for a shot at the World Series. George Lombard also briefly played for Atlanta and is a current bench coach for the Tigers.
Continuing the pattern of looking at bench coaches, Danny Lehmann from the Dodgers was also mentioned. AA was with the Dodgers when Lehmann was an advanced video scout with LA. He has been the bench coach for the Dodgers since 2023 and has clearly helped cultivate a culture of winning.
This search is going to be tough, but AA has the chance to set the organization up right. He's going to do his best to pick the most qualified candidate possible.