While the Atlanta Braves may be underperforming so far this season, one MLB insider believes their 27-36 record heading into Sunday’s action won’t be enough to cost manager Brian Snitker his job.
In his Sunday column for USA Today, Bob Nightengale wrote that Snitker’s job as the Braves manager “appears to be safe for the remainder of the season.” Projected to once again be a contender for the postseason out of the tough National League East, Atlanta had just a 29.7 percent chance to make the playoffs (per FanGraphs) before Sunday’s game in San Francisco.
While Atlanta is struggling this season, Snitker has helped the Braves stay as a model of success during his nine-plus seasons as the manager. Atlanta has made the postseason in seven consecutive campaigns and captured the World Series title in 2021.
Nightengale added that Snitker’s contract is set to expire after this season and the 69-year-old skipper, who was the NL Manager of the Year in 2018, is expected to retire.
With that in mind, could an interesting reunion happen in Atlanta? It appears a perfect storm could be brewing if the Braves were open to bringing back Ron Washington.
Washington, currently the manager with the Los Angeles Angels, is in the last year of a two-year guaranteed contract with the franchise. The Angels hold a club option for the 2026 campaign but there has no word yet on whether Washington will be brought back for next season.
Should the Angels decide to part ways with the 73-year-old Washington, the Braves could reunite with him after he spent seven seasons as the team’s third base coach and became well known for his pregame infield drills that have become a staple of his time in Anaheim as well.
Washington has managed the Texas Rangers and Angels for 10 seasons, and he also has the relationships in Atlanta needed to step right in for the franchise’s continuity’s sake. However, at 73, how long would a Washington-Braves reunion realistically last?
Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos spoke highly of Washington when he departed the organization to head to Anaheim, telling reporters, “He’s everything you can want” when it comes to someone leading the team.
Could the Braves and Washington come full circle in 2026? While we’re still not even at the All-Star break of the 2025 season, it’s something to keep an eye on in Atlanta and Anaheim.
