The Atlanta Braves shook up Major League Baseball’s offseason on Wednesday when long-time skipper Brian Snitker announced he would step into an advisory role after nearly a decade in charge. With that, Atlanta joined a growing group of clubs seeking a new manager before the 2026 campaign begins.
The San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, and Texas Rangers had already declared they were making managerial changes. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, and Colorado Rockies remain undecided on their interim managers. That means as many as eight dugouts could look different on Opening Day next season.
But which of these jobs offers the best opportunity for success, stability, or at least a soft landing? CBS Sports evaluated each opening based on roster strength, likelihood of winning, organizational patience, and overall upside.
1. Atlanta Braves
The Braves’ job immediately becomes one of the most desirable in baseball. Despite a disappointing season, Atlanta remains loaded with talent and is a prime candidate to rebound. Their record in one-run games was the third-worst in the league, masking how competitive they truly were. With better luck in close contests, they could easily have been a playoff team. Whoever steps in will not only inherit a playoff-caliber roster but also find themselves an early favorite for NL Manager of the Year.
2. Baltimore Orioles
Over in the AL East, Baltimore represents another plum opening. The Orioles overcame a miserable 15–28 start to post a winning record over their final 119 games. A strong young core of position players is already in place, and the front office is expected to bolster the pitching staff this winter. The division is brutal, but the upside is huge: this could be a team on the cusp of returning to contention, making the new skipper an immediate AL Manager of the Year candidate.
3. Minnesota Twins
The Twins’ situation is trickier. A midseason sell-off and ownership’s reluctance to spend big raise questions about their near-term competitiveness. Still, Minnesota offers two advantages: the AL Central is historically weak, and the organization tends to give its managers time to figure things out. For someone seeking stability and the chance to grow into the role, this is a safer landing spot than it might appear at first glance.
4. Texas Rangers
Two years removed from their 2023 World Series triumph, the Rangers find themselves in transition. Financial constraints mean they’ll rely more heavily on cheaper, younger players going forward. That raises doubts about immediate success, but lowered expectations could translate into more job security. With Chris Young leading the front office, the franchise hopes to balance rebuilding with staying competitive.
5. San Francisco Giants
The Giants are a team in flux, aiming higher than their recent results but carrying plenty of risk. Significant money is tied up in Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Rafael Devers—three players whose long-term durability is uncertain. Add to that the pressure of an ambitious ownership and the uncertainty surrounding Buster Posey’s front office plans, and this becomes a high-risk, high-reward role.
6. Washington Nationals
The Nationals have intriguing young talent—James Wood, CJ Abrams, and MacKenzie Gore among them—and a string of high draft picks to work with. Still, their record has worsened despite those additions, and new executive Paul Toboni has yet to show his hand. With Abrams and Gore inching closer to free agency, another rebuild could be looming. While the Nats are no longer as quick to shuffle managers as they once were, the job remains unpredictable.
7. Colorado Rockies
At first glance, Colorado might seem like the least appealing job, with the franchise staring down a potential fourth consecutive 100-loss season. However, the Rockies are arguably the most patient—or indifferent—organization in MLB when it comes to managerial results. Bud Black held the post for nearly a decade despite producing just a 71-win pace overall. If your priority is job security over titles, this might actually be the most forgiving position in the sport.
8. Los Angeles Angels
The Angels, unfortunately, land at the bottom. They’ve hovered between 72–73 wins in three of the last four years, lack both major-league-ready talent and a deep farm system, and show little patience with managers. Since Mike Scioscia’s departure in 2018, four different full-time skippers have come and gone—two after just one season. For any candidate hoping to build something lasting, this is the riskiest gig on the board.
The Big Picture
Of the eight potential openings, the Braves and Orioles clearly offer the most upside, while the Rockies’ results-indifferent culture keeps them from being last. The Angels, however, stand out as the least appealing destination, combining limited talent, an uncertain future, and a quick managerial hook.
As the offseason unfolds, candidates will weigh not only the chance to win but also the chance to survive. For some, Atlanta and Baltimore are dream jobs; for others, even a rocky assignment like Colorado might be preferable to Anaheim’s revolving door.
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