Brian Snitker Will Not Return as Braves Manager in 2026, FIRE UP THE HOT BOARD

It felt like things had been a little too quiet on the Brian Snitker front as the Braves wound down a lost season, but just three days after Atlanta played its final game of 2025, the team announced Snitker would be moving into another role within the organization rather than returning as manager and will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame.

I'm a little surprised this announcement wasn't made a week or two ago to give Snit a sendoff in the final series, but this was the right move and the perfect way to do it. I think it's time for someone else to take over at the helm, but put this guy in the Braves Hall of Fame and let him be part of the organization until he dies if that's what he wants. He's earned that.

Snitker has been with the Braves in some capacity since 1977. I've got another two decades before I will have been alive as long as this guy has worked for the Atlanta Braves. And he waited long enough to finally get his opportunity at the big job and won a World Series. Storybook stuff.

Now as for who takes over in 2026, I think there are three choices that will be at the top of the Braves' list. This is an organization that values continuity more than most, so I'd imagine the next manager will have some connection to the Braves and/or Snit.

Walt Weiss has been Atlanta's bench coach since 2018 and has prior managerial experience in Colorado. David Ross, who played for the Braves under Bobby Cox and while Snitker was the third base coach, is waiting for his next opportunity. And Mark DeRosa began his career in Atlanta and has gotten some experience in the dugout managing Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. There are certainly other — and potentially even better — options out there, but I'd be surprised to see someone take this job who doesn't have some sort of connection to the organization already.

Ross seems to make the most sense to me, especially given that he just happens to have a story come out the morning the Braves job opens about his desire to be back in a big league dugout as soon as possible.

Whoever it ends up being, it needs to be somebody that can inject some juice into this clubhouse. This is a team that needs to show up to spring training in February with its hair on fire after a disaster of a season in 2025.

Thank you, Snit.