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Braves hire Weiss as manager to replace Snitker (0:43)
Braves hire Weiss as manager to replace Snitker (0:43)
The Atlanta Braves hired Walt Weiss as manager Monday, turning to their longtime bench coach in hopes of a turnaround after they missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Weiss, 61, managed the Colorado Rockies from 2013 to 2016, going 283-365 and never finishing higher than third place. He inherits a talented Braves team that finished 76-86 and was ravaged by injuries.
Atlanta returns a strong core led by former MVP Ronald Acuna Jr, first baseman Matt Olson, third baseman Austin Riley, future star catcher Drake Baldwin and a rotation featuring Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach. Following a fourth-place finish, Atlanta still could be among the favorites in the National League East, with division champion Philadelphia looking at significant changes over the winter, New York trying to rebound from a late-season collapse and Miami still at least a year away from contention.
Weiss emerged as the favorite to take over from Brian Snitker, who led Atlanta to its 2021 World Series title and accepted a senior adviser role with the team after the expiration of his contract following the 2025 season. Weiss joined Atlanta in 2018 as bench coach and had been Snitker's consigliere since.
A 14-year major leaguer, Weiss was a glove-first shortstop who won a World Series with Oakland in 1989. The Braves will need a new shortstop for the 2026 season after Ha-Seong Kim opted out of his contract Monday.
Much of Atlanta's team for next season is already in place. Center fielder Michael Harris II, left fielder Jurickson Profar and second baseman Ozzie Albies are slated to return, along with catcher Sean Murphy, who could be traded or split time at catcher and designated hitter with Baldwin. While Atlanta is flush with starting-pitching options -- young right-handers Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver, along with right-handers Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder and left-hander Joey Wentz are candidates -- its bullpen is a work in progress, with closer Raisel Iglesias headed to free agency this winter.
In a busy offseason of managerial hirings, Weiss was the seventh new manager installed. San Diego and Colorado, which also needs a new head of baseball operations, are the lone teams remaining without a manager.
