The Atlanta Braves could be facing significant changes this offseason—both in management and on the roster. One major question remains: will Brian Snitker return next season? While nothing is confirmed, many believe this could be his final year at the helm.
“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.”
On the player side, the Braves may have struck gold at the trade deadline by acquiring a valuable arm for next season.
“So far, he’s proved to be a steal. In 21 games pitched since coming to Atlanta, Kinley has a 0.41 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP over 22 innings of work. He’s averaging nearly a strikeout per inning as well. It was a low-risk gamble that brought high reward. The Braves have the chance to keep him around, and it would be the right call. Next year, he has a $5 million club option with some incentives ($1.5 million total) tied to the number of games pitched. For just $6.5 million, the Braves can retain a quality option for next season. If he doesn’t pan out, then the risk comes at a smaller price tag,” SI’s Harrison Smajovits wrote.
Kinley has been nothing short of excellent since joining the Braves, and his contract is more than reasonable for next season. This is a prime example of the calculated risks that GM Alex Anthopoulos takes—and how often they pay off.
While 2025 was a rough year for Atlanta, expectations are high for a playoff push next season. If that happens, Kinley could prove to be a key veteran presence on the pitching staff.
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