Braves extend manager Snitker through 2023
ATLANTA — Coming off a third straight NL East title and within one win of a spot in the World Series, the Atlanta Braves have extended the contract of manager Brian Snitker through the 2023 season.
The extension announced Friday includes a club option for 2024.
The 65-year-old Snitker took over the Braves on an interim basis in 2016 when the club was in the midst of a massive rebuilding job.
After going 72-90 in his first full season, Atlanta won the first of its three straight division titles in 2018.
Last season, the Braves won a postseason series for the first time since 2001, beating Cincinnati in the wild-card round and Miami in the divisional series before losing to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in an NL Championship Series that went the seven-game limit.
Atlanta led the series 3-1 before the Dodgers rallied to win the final three games.
“I am thrilled that Brian will continue to lead our club on the field and in the clubhouse,“general manager Alex Anthopoulos said in a statement. “Three consecutive division titles speak to the impact of Brian and his staff, and we are pleased that he will continue to guide our club through 2023.”
Snitker has been with the Braves organization for 45 years as a player, coach and manager — most in the minor leagues — after signing with the club as an undrafted free agent in 1977.
Snitker was voted NL Manager of the Year in 2018.
Three players test positive for virus
Three players were positive for COVID-19 among 900 samples during the second week of spring training testing.
Major League Baseball said Friday there had been 15 positives overall among 5,236 tests thus far during spring training, a positive rate of 0.3 percent. Positive tests included 12 players and three staff.
Weekly monitoring testing included five positives among 13,208 tests.
That left figures for monitor testing at five positives among 15,506 tests, a rate of 0.3 percent, and figures for all testing at 20 positives among 20,742 tests.
Pioneering VP to step down
Marla Miller is stepping down after 21 years as Major League Baseball’s senior vice president of special events.
Miller, MLB’s first female senior vice president, has been in charge of planning for the All-Star Game and World Series, arranging ceremonies and entertainment, including national anthem singers.
Odds and ends
Veteran righthander Jesse Chavez is re-signing with the Los Angeles Angels on a minor league deal. Chavez will join the Angels’ spring training camp in Tempe, Arizona, after he clears their intake protocols . ...
The White Sox and Cuban pitching prospect Norge Vera have agreed to a minor league contract that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. The White Sox also announced minor league deals with outfielder/first baseman Dario Borrero, righthanders Adrian Gil and Carlos Hinestroza, catcher Manuel Guariman, outfielder Carlos Jimenez and third baseman Victor Quezada.