Unbelievable: Brian Gerald Snitker has signed the most expensive and biggest contract ever and promises to complete it in the next three weeks.
Unbelievable: Brian Gerald Snitker pledges to finish the largest and most costly contract ever in the next three weeks.
In order to keep manager Brian Snitker in Atlanta for at least the ensuing three years, the Atlanta Braves announced on Tuesday that they have activated the option in his contract for the 2024 season.
Given that the Braves are coming off one of their best seasons ever—one that included a World Series victory over the Houston Astros—exercising Snitker’s option was a predictable decision.
The Braves won their first World Series championship since 1995 and the National League East for the fourth time in club history, despite finishing just 88-73 in the regular season.
After Fredi Gonzalez was fired as the Braves’ manager in 2016, Snitker assumed temporary management duties. Snitker became the Braves’ full-time manager after the team finished 59-65.
Some questioned that choice, particularly in the wake of Atlanta’s 72-90 loss in 2017, but the 66-year-old has significantly turned things around since then.
From 2018 to 21, the Braves were the NL East winners and advanced to the postseason each year. They advanced to the National League Championship Series in 2020 and won everything in the previous season.
In his management career, Snitker is 441-390 (.531) overall in the regular season.
The native of Illinois also took home the NL Manager of the Year Award in 2018, and during the previous four seasons, he has placed fourth or higher in the voting.
Considering everything Snitker had to go through in terms of personnel, the previous season might have been his best as a manager.
A ruptured ACL sidelined superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. in July, while Mike Soroka, the starting pitcher, missed all of 2020 due to a complete Achilles injury.
Marcell Ozuna was only in Atlanta for 48 games when he was placed on administrative leave for the rest of the season due to charges of domestic abuse.
Along the way, Snitker skillfully incorporated players like Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall, Joc Pederson, and Jorge Soler, and the Braves made a number of noteworthy in-season deals.
Under Snitker’s tutelage, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies both experienced successful offensive careers.