Braves rank surprisingly low on The Athletic’s list of manager openings

As of now, there are six managerial openings across Major League Baseball, with the potential for more in the coming days. The Braves, Rangers, Orioles, Giants, Angels, and Twins all need to fill vacancies, while the Nationals and Rockies have yet to announce decisions on their interim managers. There’s also speculation in Houston that the Astros could move on from Joe Espada following a late-season collapse that left them out of the postseason picture.

Over at The Athletic, Levi Weaver ranked all of the current and potential openings, and the Braves came in a little lower on the list than many might have expected.

3. Atlanta Braves

Speaking of injuries, the fragile nature of the human body really wrecked Brian Snitker’s swan song. And there’s really no guarantee that Ronald Acuña Jr. will ever be a candidate to play all 162 games. But after a rough start to his comeback from Tommy John, Spencer Strider posted a 2.79 ERA in September. Throw in Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver once he returns from his own TJ surgery, and you’re looking pretty good there. Plus, you have NL Rookie of the year candidate Drake Baldwin. You should have a few years of success before the rebuild comes.

Clocking in at #3 behind the Giants and Orioles isn’t exactly slap in the face. San Francisco stayed in the Wild Card race until the final week, and the addition of Buster Posey to the front office makes that job an intriguing one. The Orioles, on the other hand, are loaded with young talent and seemingly on the verge of a breakthrough, even if they flopped badly in 2025 as one of the few clubs more disappointing than the Braves.

Still, there’s no reason Atlanta shouldn’t be at the very top of this list. Choosing any other organization feels like trying too hard to be different. The Braves are built to win now. They’ve reached the postseason in seven of the last eight years, their lineup features one of the game’s best players along with the best first baseman in 2025, and former All-Stars are sprinkled throughout the roster. Add in Alex Anthopoulos — one of the most aggressive and proven general managers in baseball — plus a payroll that consistently ranks inside the top 10, and the case is undeniable.

Unless a manager is intimidated by expectations — and there will be plenty in Atlanta next year — there simply isn’t a better job available. The Braves’ opening is the premier opportunity in Major League Baseball, and it’s not particularly close.

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