On Wednesday, Atlanta Braves fans finally got Brian Snitker's retirement decision. After a long and storied career with the Braves, Snitker has decided to hang it up and move into a senior advisory role with Atlanta. No one deserves retirement and quality time with their family as much as Snitker does, but it does immediately raise the question as to who will replace him as the Braves' manager.
Given the uncertainty over whether or not Snitker would retire, it is unclear how much thought Alex Anthopoulos and Co. have even put into his replacement. Anthopoulos made it clear that he was not going to force Snit in one direction or another and seemed comfortable with whatever he chose. However, that hasn't stopped a certain amount of speculation as to who could fill the void.
Here are some of the early names Braves fans can expect to hear about replacing Brian Snitker with
It is not yet known exactly how thorough a search for a new manager the Braves are going to take. If they were more in the loop on Snitker's decision than has been shown publicly, they could act quickly to replace him. If not, this could be a long search especially with the number of other managerial openings elsewhere around the league. However, these names will almost certainly be in running in some form or fashion.
Walt Weiss
Weiss is probably the frontrunner especially among the internal options available to the Braves. Weiss has experience managing going back to his Colorado days, knows the Braves' players as well as anyone given his long tenure as bench coach, and it has long been rumored that Weiss seems like a guy that was being groomed to be Snitker's eventual replacement. The Braves could opt for an outside voice and that might end Weiss' time with the Braves altogether, but he still feels like the most likely Snitker replacement right now.
Ron Washington
Ron Washington honestly probably should have been off the board altogether until yesterday. Not only was he under contract with the Angels, but Wash dealt with scary health issues this season that could have forced him out as a coach altogether. However, Washington is adamant that he is healthy enough to manage again and LA just decided to let him go on Tuesday. His age and health are real concerns, but you can bet that his name is coming up as a short-term option at minimum.
Skip Schumaker
Of all the external candidates to replace Snitker, former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker has seemed to have the most momentum. Schumaker was largely lauded for his work with the Marlins before he decided he needed to get out of Miami for one reason or another. Schumaker has been serving as a special advisor for the Rangers and could be a leading contender to replace Bruce Bochy in Texas, but expect Schumaker's name to come up a good bit.
Mark DeRosa
Mark DeRosa is largely mentioned by Braves fans that like watching him on TV and remember how likable he was when playing for Atlanta. However, DeRosa does still have a lot of connections to the Braves organization and he will be managing Team USA during the World Baseball Classic. Given that the Braves want to immediately contend, hiring DeRosa would be a big risk. However, crazier things have happened.
Fredi Gonzalez
When the Braves hired Fredi Gonzalez this season, there was immediate concern that Atlanta could turn to him to replace Snitker if/when he retired. Everyone with the team, including Gonzalez, played down the hire at the time as an emergency move and one that only happened because Snitker personally asked Gonzalez for a favor. The optics of replacing Snitker with a guy that failed as the team's manager previously would be terrible and that makes Gonzalez a long shot, but never say never.
Bob Melvin
There has been no connection between the Braves and Melvin whatsoever, but Melvin wasn't even on the market until recently when the Giants sent him packing. Melvin has a long track record in the big leagues which could be appealing to the Braves, but his exits from San Francisco and the Padres raise legitimate questions about his fit in an organization that is looking to contend. Still, as a former manager with a lengthy resume, expect Atlanta to at least kick the tires on Melvin.