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The Atlanta Braves took the insanity of last week’s baseball news, including the Astros’ confusing press conference and Rob Manfred’s even-more-confusing comments, and entered their team into the rumor mill on Monday by announcing a pair of extensions for their two leaders and other coaches.
The Braves confirmed they have agreed to a deal with Alex Anthopoulos that lasts through the 2024 season in addition to extending all members of their coaching staff (including Snitker) through 2021. Previously, Anthopoulos, their president of baseball operations, had been under contract through 2021 while Snitker had a club option for 2021.
Anthopoulos himself announced Snitker’s extension, saying, “Winning consecutive division titles illustrates the leadership and impact of Brian and his staff. We are happy to know they will be leading the Braves through the 2021 season.”
Snitker, 64, is entering his fourth season in Atlanta. Under Snitker’s leadership, the Braves have been 318-292 (.521) with a 187-137 clip over the past two years. He was named National League Manager of the Year in 2018 and he led the Braves to playoff runs (but NLDS exits) in both 2018 and 2019.
As for Anthopoulos, In a statement, chairman Terry McGuirk said, “I am very pleased that Alex will be leading the Atlanta Braves’ baseball operations for years to come. Since he joined the organization, Alex has continued the winning tradition that Braves fans have come to expect.”
2020 will be Anthopoulos’s third season in Atlanta. He has mastered the craft of the trade and successfully executed various swaps in his time in Atlanta, finalizing trades that have unloaded expensive pieces for prospects and cash while also negotiating agreements with impactful free agents such as Anibal Sanchez, Josh Donaldson, Dallas Keuchel and Marcell Ozuna. However, the 42-year-old’s best moves to this point were the extensions of Ozzie Albies (seven years, $35 million) and Ronald Acuna, Jr. (eight years, $100 million) that have helped form the future of the Atlanta baseball club.
The other coaches who received extensions Monday were hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, pitching coach Rick Kranitz, bullpen coach Marty Reed, third base coach Ron Washington, bench coach Walt Weiss, catching coach Sal Fasano, first base and outfield coach Eric Young, Sr., and assistant hitting coach Jose Castro.