Braves insider reveals 3-time World Series champion is favorite to replace Brian Snitker as manager

Hunter Cookston

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Braves insider reveals 3-time World Series champion is favorite to replace Brian Snitker as manager image

The Atlanta Braves are coming off their worst season in years after a disappointing summer of baseball. While the team had a brief two-week stretch where they looked like the squad they were destined to be, the overall season made it clear that Brian Snitker’s future as manager was uncertain.

“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.”

With the World Series concluded, the Braves are expected to finalize their search for a new manager soon.

“While many look to Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann because the Braves have waited this long, we still have to wait and see if this is who their top choice actually is,” SI’s Harrison Smajovitts wrote. “That being said, it's hard to imagine it take too much longer to make their decision. They're going to want to know who their manager is when they go about their offseason plans.”

Braves insider Mark Bowman recently shared his take on the favorite to replace Snitker.

“The Braves will likely announce their new manager within the next few days. Still feels like Danny Lehmann is the favorite. If he gets the job, winning a second straight World Series and getting your first chance to manage would qualify for an incredible few days,” Bowman wrote.

Hiring Lehmann would be an intriguing move. He has no prior managerial experience, but he is highly analytical. While trends and data can be valuable, ultimately it’s what happens on the field that matters.

Fortunately, the Braves have a veteran roster, so acclimating to a new managerial style shouldn’t be overly difficult. This represents a departure from the Braves’ typical hiring approach, making it a true “go big or go home” decision.

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