Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker reiterated Sunday that he has not decided whether he wants to continue managing or retire. He’s at the end of his contract, will be 70 next month, and has been in the Braves organization for 49 years as a player, coach, instructor and manager.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has not said whether the Braves will offer Snitker another contract, only that Snitker would “always be” in the organization and that they would talk with Snitker after the season. Snitker said those conversations would happen in the next few days.
“I’ll be honest with you, I teetered on the fence,” Snitker said of his decision. “I’ve never been through this before. So I wasn’t sure how to navigate it. Talked to a lot of people that had been through it, and I got some good advice. And so I just tried to stay in the moment pretty much and not focus it onto (the team) on that day’s game.”
Snitker said he’s talked with multiple former managers who had been in similar situations, without naming them. He also said the Braves’ improved play in the second half and in recent weeks might’ve influenced his thinking some.
He has said repeatedly in recent weeks, and again Sunday, how proud he’s been that his team kept playing hard until the end. Snitker told the team as much Sunday.
One thing seems clear: He has their support.
“Absolutely,” Braves pitcher Chris Sale said, when asked if he’d like to see Snitker return. “We didn’t have a celebratory send-off for him, so he can’t go.”
Braves first baseman Matt Olson said, “Snit has always been great to us. I always talk about how he has the perfect demeanor. He just sets the clubhouse up nice. I don’t think that the highs and the lows — as a manager, you can’t ride those, and Snit is the epitome of that. He’s always rolling even keel all the way through. And I think that frees guys up to let him play.
“Obviously, it’s kind of his decision to make. We’ll see where it goes, but nothing but respect for Snit.”
National League Rookie of the Year candidate Drake Baldwin said of Snitker, “He’s an awesome guy. He kind of lets us be and lets us do what we have to do every day to be the best player we can be. He hasn’t told us anything, but I’m definitely curious what he decides.”
