The Atlanta Braves have had a very forgettable season, marked by numerous setbacks. Recently, they received bad news concerning a trio of pitchers.
“Joe Jimenez was shut down from throwing last week due to renewed soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. This seemed like a major obstacle to Jimenez’s chances of returning to action before the end of the 2025 season, and Braves manager Brian Snitker confirmed today to reporters (including Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) that Jimenez indeed won’t be back in action this year. It also seems like injured starters Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach have thrown their last pitches of 2025, as Snitker was doubtful either right-hander would be activated from the 60-day injured list before season’s end,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Mark Polishuk wrote.
Brian Snitker isn’t expected to return next season due to contract reasons.
“Because of that consistent recent success, Snit would normally be afforded a ‘mulligan’ year—even though going from the second-best preseason World Series odds to possibly the third-best odds of winning the draft lottery is a pretty serious mulligan,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. “At 69, though, he's already the oldest manager in the National League by a several-year margin and was likely to retire at the end of this season, which is the last one in his current contract.”
The Braves could turn back the clock and bring back a familiar face adored by everyone.
“It is very clear that the Braves' clubhouse misses Ron Washington greatly as a mentor and coach. He is a unicorn of a leader and one that players adored and respected his voice when he needed to correct them. It is also true that Washington is currently managing the Angels who are not a particularly good baseball team and a very poorly run one from ownership to the front office. It does seem like a really good fit to just bring Washington back,” HTHB’s Eric Cole wrote.
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Everyone inside the clubhouse would welcome this move. Washington had strong bonds with players like Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Matt Olson. However, Washington the third base coach is very different from Washington the manager.