It was announced on Wednesday that Braves manager Brian Snitker has decided not to continue in his role. Instead, he will move into an advisory position with the organization, leaving Atlanta to conduct an offseason managerial search.
The Braves have had only 45 managers in their 154-year history, and just three since 1990. Bobby Cox managed from 1990 to 2010, followed by Fredi González from 2011 to 2016, before Snitker took over. A homegrown product of the organization, Snitker spent 49 years with the Braves. He previously managed the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett and was named interim manager after González was fired midseason in 2016.
The highlight of Snitker’s eight years at the helm came in 2021, when he led the Braves to a World Series title over the Houston Astros. Despite high expectations in 2025, the team finished 76-86, placing fourth in the NL East. It was the franchise’s first losing season since 2017, Snitker’s first full year as manager. Now, Atlanta will begin its search for a new skipper.
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Here are the best options for the Braves' next manager.
Braves' best Brian Snitker replacements
Mark DeRosa
The Braves are big on building from within, both with their roster and their coaching staff. DeRosa was a seventh-round draft pick for Atlanta in 1996 and made his major league debut two years later in 1998. He spent six years with the organization before bouncing around the league for the next eight seasons, retiring in 2013.
Since retiring, DeRosa has taken on an analyst role with MLB Network. He hasn’t fully left the field, though, serving as Team USA’s manager in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and already being chosen for the same role at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Beyond that, however, DeRosa has no other coaching experience. While he played under Bobby Cox, he doesn’t have the background that Snitker does, and moving from a one-time World Baseball Classic manager to leading the Braves would be a significant leap.
Walt Weiss
Like DeRosa, Weiss also played for Cox in Atlanta. He began his playing career in 1987 with the Athletics and ended it with the Braves in 2000. Since retiring, Weiss has gotten into coaching. He has held a variety of roles, most notably as the manager of the Colorado Rockies from 2013 to 2016. Weiss didn't tally a winning record in any of his four seasons, but finished with a 283-365 total record.
He became the Braves' bench coach in 2017 and has served in that role ever since. Weiss was requested to interview for the Miami Marlins managerial opening in 2022, but turned it down to remain with Atlanta. If the Braves choose to go with Weiss, it would likely signal that they intend to maintain the status quo from a staffing perspective and wouldn't necessitate a detailed coaching search.
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David Ross
Ross spent 14 years playing major league baseball, and four of those seasons (2009-2012) were spent in Atlanta. He won the World Series in 2013 while with the Boston Red Sox and again in 2016 while with the Chicago Cubs. The former catcher spent a few years away from the game, but returned in 2020 when he was named the manager of the Cubs.
Over four seasons, Ross tallied a 262-284 record, with 2020 being his best season. Chicago went 34-26 in the COVID-19 shortened season, winning the NL Central. The Cubs finished 83-79 in 2023, but didn't make the postseason, and Ross was dismissed as manager.
He checks a lot of boxes for the Braves in terms of how they like to do business. Ross played for the franchise and was born in Bainbridge, Georgia, approximately three and a half hours south of Atlanta.
Ron Washington
Washington was fired by the Los Angeles Angels after two seasons. While that door closed, it could open another in Atlanta. Washington was with the Braves organization from 2016 to 2023, serving as the team’s third-base coach. He was also celebrated for his fielding drills and for being a versatile coach who contributed in multiple areas.
Washington has had two stints as a manager. He led the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014, guiding the team to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011, and finishing with a 664-611 record. He then managed the Angels for two seasons, compiling a 103-139 record, after coaching just 80 games in 2025 due to medical leave.
The 73-year-old Washington likely isn’t a long-term solution for the Braves, but he could serve as a bridge manager for the next couple of seasons while the franchise develops another coach at the Triple-A level, as it has done in the past.