It’s not official yet, but the writing’s on the wall in bold, capital letters — the Atlanta Braves’ seven-year playoff streak is about to hit a dead end. And along with it? The likely farewell tour of manager Brian Snitker.
Now, nobody’s blaming Snitker for every piece of the Braves’ 2025 mess. The team’s been ravaged by injuries, and key players are in career-worst slumps. Still, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller included him on a list of MLB managers on the hot seat heading into the stretch run — and while his “immediate peril” score is just a 1 out of 10, the “offseason jeopardy” rating? That’s a 9.5. That’s not just a red flag — that’s a five-alarm fire.
Here’s the thing: Snitker turns 70 next year, and 2025 is the final year of his current contract. Even before the season began, Snitker was openly non-committal about returning in 2026. Back in March, he told The New York Post’s Jon Heyman that he wanted to wait and “see what happens.” At the time, that comment seemed cautious — maybe even humble. Now? It feels more like foreshadowing.
Snitker Will Not Be Fired by the Atlanta Braves
With how the season has unraveled, it’s tough to see him pushing for another lap. To be clear: this wouldn’t be a firing, and nobody in the Braves organization wants it to look that way.
Snitker is deep Braves royalty — 40+ years in the organization, a World Series champion, and a stabilizing figure through Atlanta’s transformation into a powerhouse. If he leaves, it’ll be with a handshake and a standing ovation, not a pink slip.
But it’s also about what’s next. As Miller noted, potential successors like Walt Weiss (current bench coach) or Skip Schumaker (former Marlins manager and 2023 NL Manager of the Year) are already being floated. If the Braves are headed for a mini-reset or even a light rebuild, it makes sense to hand the reins to someone who’ll be around for the long haul.
This version of the Braves doesn’t look like the one that dominated the National League. The bats are inconsistent and the energy is not the same. The injuries have been brutal. If August and September continue this spiral, Snitker’s final chapter could be written for him — not because he failed, but because the era he led is coming to a close.
So whether he hits that 50-year mark with the club or not, 2025 is starting to feel like the end of the road for one of the most beloved managers in franchise history.
