Everybody is pretty clueless about who the Atlanta Braves might be targeting as their next manager. That’s exactly how general manager Alex Anthopoulos likes it.
History suggests the Braves will likely hire someone familiar with the organization. “The Braves way” is very real, and abandoning it for something new and shiny doesn’t make much sense for a franchise that’s won 21 division titles and two World Series championships since 1991.
The oddsmakers at BetOnline seem to agree, recently releasing the following odds for who will become the Braves’ next manager:
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There are plenty of intriguing names on this list, but as you can see, the top five all have ties to the Braves. Mark DeRosa, David Ross, and Ryan Flaherty each played in Atlanta. Walt Weiss currently serves as the team’s bench coach, while Fredi Gonzalez previously managed the club and returned midseason as the third base coach.
Four of those names are legitimate candidates, with the lone exception being Fredi Gonzalez. There’s virtually no chance the Braves go in that direction again. He’s had his opportunity, and it didn’t work out.
Among candidates with no prior Braves connection, future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina has the best odds. Catchers often make great managers, and few players in baseball history possess a sharper mind or deeper understanding of the game than Molina. His championship pedigree speaks for itself, and fans would likely welcome a more modern presence in the dugout.
Another intriguing name is Tony Vitello, who’s emerged as one of the premier coaches in college baseball after leading Tennessee to its first national championship last year.
If the Braves are looking for experience, Bruce Bochy would be the obvious choice. The four-time World Series champion has done just about everything there is to do in the game.
And finally, sitting all the way at the bottom is former Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud. He still has one year left on his contract with the Angels, making his candidacy highly unlikely, but he’s long been viewed as a potential heir to Brian Snitker whenever the time came for a transition.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
