Braves managerial candidate eager to get another shot

With Brian Snitker making his retirement official on Wednesday, the Braves’ first order of business this offseason is to find a new manager.

Most of the names being floated early on are familiar ones. Atlanta could stay in-house — as they often have before — by promoting bench coach Walt Weiss, who previously managed the Rockies. Two other popular names are Skip Schumaker and Mark DeRosa.

Schumaker is one of the most respected managers in baseball. He earned NL Manager of the Year honors in 2023 after leading the Marlins to an unlikely postseason berth. Personal reasons led to his departure from Miami, and he’s currently serving as an advisor with the Rangers, who coincidentally also have a managerial opening. Because of that, many expect Texas to move quickly to bring him aboard.

DeRosa, meanwhile, has been managing Team USA since 2023 and is widely viewed as one of the sharpest baseball minds who has yet to take over a big-league clubhouse. He has a comfortable, well-paying role with MLB Network, so he won’t leave for just any team. But if the Braves came calling, it’s hard to imagine him not listening. DeRosa made his major-league debut with Atlanta in 1998, played for the club through 2004, and would be returning to a roster built to contend right away.

Still, the name that has been most frequently linked to Atlanta so far is David Ross, who has been vocal about wanting another chance to manage after his run with the Cubs.

“Badly,” Ross said when asked if he wants to return to managing. “It’s an itch that hasn’t gone away.”

Ross won a World Series with the Cubs in 2016, his final season as a player, before taking over as Chicago’s manager in 2020. He posted a 262-284 record with one postseason appearance. His dismissal, however, had little to do with performance. The Cubs were in a rebuild during much of his tenure, and by the time they emerged from it, the front office had its eyes on Craig Counsell. Chicago gave Counsell an unprecedented eight-year, $40 million deal, forcing Ross out.

Even Cubs president Jed Hoyer admitted Ross was expected back in 2024 until Counsell became available.

“I really enjoyed working with David. I thought he did a good job,” Hoyer told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. “He certainly was coming back the next year but for the chance we had to get Craig. I felt it was the right thing and something we needed to do. But David is a good manager and absolutely should get another chance given his performance with us.”

Ross’ record in Chicago doesn’t tell the whole story of his ability as a manager. His time in Atlanta as a player from 2009–2012 only strengthens his case, as the Braves have a long history of favoring familiar faces who understand the organization’s way of doing business. Whether it’s Ross or another candidate with ties to the club, don’t expect that trend to change this hiring cycle.

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