Is Ron Washington a viable option to be the Braves next manager?

The Angels announced yesterday that Ron Washington would not be returning as the team’s manager. The reason for their decision was not health related, according to Angels beat writer Sam Blum of The Athletic. The team moved on for performance-based reasons, despite Washington leading the club — one that had no business winning — to a 36-38 record before undergoing quadruple bypass surgery in June and taking a leave of absence for the remainder of the season.

“I think I had the team going in the right direction — I really did,” Washington said. “And it was just too bad that my health came into play. There’s nothing that I can do about that.

It’s a peculiar move by the Angels. They never put Ron Washington in a position to succeed, yet he still over-exceeded expectations and has expressed a desire to continue managing, but there’s a reason bad organizations stay bad.

Despite the health concerns, Washington does not want to retire. He wants another opportunity to manage, and one just opened up in Atlanta, as Brian Snitker announced his retirement on Wednesday.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Washington gets an interview for the Braves’ job, but even he has acknowledged that being 73 years old and coming off quadruple bypass surgery doesn’t make him the most appealing candidate.

Realistically, few teams will hand the reins to a manager with that profile. Still, whoever Atlanta hires may consider bringing Washington back in a supporting role — and from his perspective, there’s no better landing spot. The Braves boast a talented roster he already knows well, and he’d have the chance to remind the baseball world just how valuable he is by helping revive a club that has hit its lowest point in nearly a decade.

No matter who the Braves choose as their next manager, there’s still a place in Atlanta for Ron Washington.