Brian Snitker's time as the Atlanta Braves' manager is over, and the biggest challenge when replacing Snitker will likely be a lack of stubborn loyalty. Few managers in the league have been as consistent as Snitker when it comes to sticking with failing pieces, even if it comes to his own detriment.
At times, this has worked, whether it was Will Smith closing out the 2021 World Series or Marcell Ozuna going on a two-year offensive tear after being among the league's worst hitters. However, there are just as many stories of frustrations and failing players with the middle infield serving as the clearest example of this.
Whether it was Nick Allen, Ozzie Albies, or Orlando Arcia, it has been clear that Snitker was frustratingly loyal to failing offensive starters. While Arcia and Allen have both been moved on from, the Braves appear poised to pick up the 2026 option on Albies and continue to give the veteran second baseman a chance to turn his career around, despite how injuries and poor offensive production have plagued the last two seasons.
Braves 2B Ozzie Albies Is on Notice after Atlanta's Coaching Change
Heading into 2025, the hoped-for narrative was that Albies' decline in the previous season was due to injuries and simply an outlier of a year. Now, we have two seasons of this exact script being followed, and very little reason to believe that Albies is going to show up as the best version of himself in 2026. With Snitker no longer in the dugout, this turns up the heat on the second baseman, who isn't going to have the same level of security.
The 2025 season showed how far Albies has fallen, as he finished with career-lows in batting average (.240), slugging percentage (.365), and OPS (.671). His 16 home runs and 74 RBIs were far from his worst effort, but they also weren't close to his previous All-Star numbers.
If Albies is playing at the level he did for much of the 2025 season, it is difficult to imagine that the new Braves manager won't put the infielder on the bench. The stubborn loyalty of Snitker served as a shield to failing players, which didn't make the patience any easier for fans to witness when it seemed there were better options to be had.
Setting up a pivotal 2026 season not only based on the contract situation, but the understanding that there is no longer a high level of patience if the offense isn't living up to expectations. As accomplished and respected as Albies is within the organization, it is very plausible that it is time to make a change.
It is an unforgiving league focused on the most recent production, and like it or not, Albies' level of offense hasn't been up to the Braves' standards for two years. Unless he experiences a miraculous turnaround, the arrival of Atlanta's next bench boss could be the beginning of the end for the accomplished infielder.