Braves news: What Brian Snitker’s contract extension means for Atlanta’s championship window

The Atlanta Braves extended manager Brian Snitker through the 2025 MLB season last week.

By extending manager Brian Snitker, the Atlanta Braves‘ championship window is still wide open.

Atlanta announced a two-year extension for the Braves skipper. He was entering the last year of his contract with Atlanta. Snitker is 67 years old, but has been in the Braves organization for 46 years. He has guided the Braves to five straight National League East division titles, as well as their most recent World Series Championship two years ago. This feels right for their manager.

While it goes without saying that Snitker will be afforded the opportunity to retire on his own terms, let’s discuss what it means for the Braves’ championship window.

What Brian Snitker’s two-year contract extension means for the Atlanta Braves

If all goes according to plan, Snitker will be turning 70 when the Braves are playing in the postseason at the end of the 2025 campaign. He will be approaching 10 seasons on the job, having completed his ninth as the Braves’ full-time manager after taking over for an ineffective Fredi Gonzalez midway through the 2016 MLB season. Atlanta should still be competitive by then.

While the New York Mets continue to outspend everyone in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies just won the pennant and the lowly Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals will not be down forever, you can now see why it was so important for Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos to lock up so many great, younger players on their roster to robust, but team-friendly contract extensions.

Seven of Snitker’s key players have signed multi-year extensions through 2027 and beyond in some cases (Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, Sean Murphy, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Spencer Strider). Even key pitchers like Ian Anderson, Tyler Matzek and Kyle Wright will still be under contract by then. Max Fried is in a contract year, but Atlanta is in good shape financially.

Simply put, for as long as the Braves’ key players can contribute at a high level, Atlanta will keep winning games and will continue to reap in the benefits of the absolute cash cow that is The Battery. Frankly, Snitker may be having so much fun he wants to manage beyond 2025! However, baseball is a painfully long season and Snitker could head to retirement in a few years.

Ultimately, the Braves should remain on the shortlist of teams that can realistically win a World Series for the next three years. The lineup stacks up well with anyone’s. The big key to watch is the pitching staff, as the Braves could lose their ace to free agency in Fried. Given that Atlanta rarely hires outside candidates for key jobs in the organization, Snitker’s replacement will be crucial.

Then again, their best move to date was hiring Anthopoulos away from the Los Angeles Dodgers.