Braves manager Snitker gets 2-year extension
The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a two-year contract extension with manager Brian Snitker, who guided the team to its first playoff berth since 2013.
The deal includes a club option for 2021.
Snitker was appointed interim managed in May 2016 after the firing of Freddie Gonzalez. He will be heading into his third full season as the club's manager and 43rd as a member of the organization.
After a third straight 90-loss season in 2017, the Braves improved to 90-72 this year and won the NL East with some of baseball's best young talent, including Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies and Mike Foltynewicz. They lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series.
A day after the season ended, Snitker said he felt good about the team's future and looked forward to returning as manager. He turns 63 on Wednesday.
Sources: Rangers interview 2 more manager candidates
The Texas Rangers have now interviewed a halfdozen candidates in their search for a new manager.
According to people familiar with the details, the Rangers conducted two more interviews Monday to increase the total to six. They spoke Monday in Arlington with Rocco Baldelli
and David Bell.
Baldelli is the major league field coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays. Bell is vice president of player development for the San Francisco Giants and the son of former Rangers third baseman Buddy Bell.
Texas is looking to replace Jeff Banister, who was fired with 10 games left the team's second consecutive losing season.
Of the candidates interviewed so far, former New York Yankees and Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi is the only one with major league managerial experience.