The Atlanta Braves are just a couple of weeks away from the end of a season they’ve been ready to put behind them. Since June, it’s been a steady downward spiral, and with the team’s poor performance, change is looming — including the possible departure of manager Brian Snitker.
“Because of that consistent recent success, Snit would normally be afforded a ‘mulligan’ year—even though going from the second-best preseason World Series odds to possibly the third-best odds of winning the draft lottery is a pretty serious mulligan,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. “At 69, though, he's already the oldest manager in the National League by a several-year margin and was likely to retire at the end of this season, which is the last one in his current contract.”
General Manager Alex Anthopoulos also has key decisions to make this winter — including whether or not to pick up Ozzie Albies’ team option. However, his recent comments have raised questions about Albies’ future in Atlanta.
“With all these options (on players), we always make the decision at the end of the year — you have five days after the World Series, and that’s when you make the decision. It’s just, things can happen, things change. You always wait,” Anthopoulos said.
Albies and Snitker have a strong relationship, which Albies has expressed publicly. He's also a fan favorite, and losing him would be heartbreaking for many. If it’s up to Albies, though, he’s made his intentions crystal clear.
“Oh, 100% (I hope to stay moving forward),” Albies said. “That’s definitely the dream.”
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Time will tell, but Albies has grown within the Braves’ farm system and contributed heavily to the major league club. His energy is unmatched, and he’s a key part of the core group that brought the Braves back to national relevance.
He still has time to prove he belongs, but Anthopoulos didn’t exactly give the kind of vote of confidence he once gave to players like Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson. If this is the end for Albies in Atlanta, it’s been a memorable run.