DALLAS – In January 2023, the Braves gave Brian Snitker a three-year contract extension that ran through the 2025 season.
Well, the 2025 season is upon us. The Braves have yet to extend Snitker, 69, even further, though that seems to be because he is unsure how much longer he will manage after this upcoming season.
At some point, Snitker will discuss the topic with president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos.
“I think it’s just gonna depend on how I feel, and I’ll get with Alex at some point and we’ll talk about it,” Snitker told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday at the Winter Meetings in the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.
What is Snitker feeling at this moment about managing beyond his current contract?
“I’m up in the air right now,” Snitker said. “Which, I’ll be honest with you, I have been for – when you get to my age, you do that. I think if I’m still enjoying what I’m doing, I’ll think about it.”
During his meeting with reporters at these Winter Meetings, Snitker said he feels great. A bit later, he reiterated the point and expanded on it with The AJC.
“Yeah. I do. I feel great,” Snitker said. “I remember Bobby (Cox) said that, too, the year he was going to retire, he goes, ‘God, if I’d known I would’ve felt this good, I wouldn’t have retired.’ Which is good. I hope I do feel good. But we’ll just see. We’ll see where I’m at, at some point.”
Bobby Cox, the Braves’ Hall of Fame manager, is one of Snitker’s mentors. Cox is the Atlanta Braves’ all-time winningest manager, at 2,149 wins. Second place: Snitker, who is 735-582 since taking over as the interim manager in 2016 before the Braves made him their full-time skipper.
Braves players seem to appreciate the way Snitker allows them to be themselves. He’s authentic and genuine – two qualities that often garner the respect of players. Snitker isn’t one to flip food spreads or break televisions. He was more intense when he was younger, but his even-keeled nature at this age has helped create a positive environment for players.
Snitker has led the Braves to six division titles – all came consecutively – and a World Series. He’s respected throughout the game for his lengthy journey to this point in his career and how he’s handled himself along the way.
In 1977, Snitker joined the Braves as a minor-league player. He has been with the organization ever since.
This season will mark his 49th in professional baseball – all with Atlanta.
What would it mean to reach 50?
“I don’t have to do that,” Snitker said. “I’ve been in it so long (that) when I got this job, I didn’t need to be a big-league manager to validate my career. It happened, I’m glad it did. This has been a really cool thing to experience for the last 10 years. But I don’t have to get to 50. I think it would be a really neat number to achieve. And I feel great. That’s the thing: I still feel really good. And I think, too, being with these young guys and the energy they have and you’re outside and you stay active, it’s been pretty good. I think it’s good for a man.”
In October, after the Braves lost to the Padres to end their season, Snitker was asked whether he intended to manage in 2025.
He answered almost immediately.
“Oh, absolutely,” Snitker said at the time. “I wondered if I would get that question. I wish spring training started tomorrow, quite honestly. I just told the guys that. I can’t wait to get to camp and hopefully have our guys whole again. And I’m going to be excited to get there probably more than I ever have been next year, quite honestly. I said I’m exhausted but, honestly, I wish we could fast-forward and be there tomorrow. I’m serious, too. I can’t wait to get there with our guys and do this again.”
In the days after that loss in San Diego, Snitker reflected on the season, which was marred by injuries and underperformance. Despite the odds, he still led that team to the postseason for a seventh consecutive season.
His mind went to how his team continued to compete despite the hand it was dealt.
“I don’t think these guys have ever been a club that has that “woe is me” attitude,” Snitker said Monday. “They just keep fighting and keep playing. It doesn’t affect them. I mean, they continue to -- because these guys like to play. They like to work. They’re consistent in all that.”
And that Monday morning before that doubleheader against the Mets to decide the teams’ fates? Snitker called it “probably the most miserable drive to the ballpark.”
“We had played a doubleheader, and that was about as stressful a situation I think as I’ve ever been in,” Snitker said. “I was more relaxed in Game 6 of the World Series. But I’m proud of the organization and the guys. We told them that. The fact that we got in and gave ourselves a chance. I kind of felt like we could have won. We should have. Not should have. We didn’t do enough, honestly. But it felt like we had a chance to win those games or should have won the games.”
In 2025, Snitker will lead the Braves in his 10th season as manager – which includes the interim year in 2016. And then after that, it’s anyone’s guess as to what might happen.
When the time comes, only Snitker will know how he feels.
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