Braves insider reveals major hint at Brian Snitker replacement, GM Alex Anthopoulos knows next hire originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves have been searching for their next manager for about a month now, ever since Brian Snitker announced just a few days after the season ended that he wouldn’t be returning. The move was largely expected throughout the year.
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“Because of that consistent recent success, Snit would normally be afforded a ‘mulligan’ year—even though going from the second-best preseason World Series odds to possibly the third-best odds of winning the draft lottery is a pretty serious mulligan,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. “At 69, though, he’s already the oldest manager in the National League by a several-year margin and was likely to retire at the end of this season, which is the last one in his current contract.”
A top name has begun to emerge in the Braves’ managerial search — and it’s an intriguing one.
“As for Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann, his candidacy has seemingly strengthened over the past couple weeks. Lehmann was Los Angeles’ advance video scout when Anthopoulos was with the Dodgers from 2016-17. The two have remained in contact over the years that have followed,” Braves insider Mark Bowman wrote. “With the Dodgers set to begin their World Series battle against the Blue Jays on Friday, Lehmann’s candidacy could lead to the Braves waiting into November before announcing their next manager.”
While that speculation has picked up in recent days, it now appears increasingly likely that Lehmann will be the one to land the job.
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“My guess is the delay in Braves hiring a manager has less to do with casting a wide net than with waiting for Danny Lehmann to finish bench-coaching w/ the Dodgers in the WS. I think he’s the one they want, and it would signal a commitment to cutting-edge analytics and process,” The Athletic’s David O’Brien wrote.
The Braves seem to have Lehmann lined up to take over as their next manager. Known for his deep analytical background, his approach would bring an interesting new twist to Atlanta’s leadership.
While the Braves would be taking a chance on someone with no prior managerial experience, their veteran roster could make the transition smoother — and the potential upside even greater.
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