The sun was shining brightly over Truist Park for the All-Star Futures Game. It truly did feel like a living yearbook — a celebration of the Braves’ rich history. In one dugout, Chipper Jones, a Hall of Famer, was managing the National League’s top prospects. While in the other, the American League was coached by Marquis Grissom, the 1995 World Series hero. The coaching staff also included Andruw Jones, Tim Hudson, Dale Murphy, and Fred McGriff. This friendly gathering, however, raised an ironic storm of speculation as well regarding the future of the Braves.

And, the speculation came from the man who is at the epicenter of it all. When asked about succeeding current manager Brian Snitker, Jones was quick to dismiss it. He referenced his family commitments, saying, “I’ve still got three boys at home and seven boys in total. They keep me plenty busy. You have to be completely committed to be a coach or a manager. And I just don’t know that I could serve the spot as well as I should.”

But Jones didn’t just leave that one as one of the personal reasons not to take up the coach. He bluntly provided another reason as well, saying you are “hired to be fired” as a manager. The 53-year-old also revealed a piercing question that he keeps asking himself: “Why would any general manager, especially here in Atlanta, want to hire me for a fireable spot?”

Jones knows that in Atlanta, his status is nearly untouchable because of a relationship built with the fans over a 19-season Hall of Fame career. Putting that legacy on the line is a gamble he believes no front office should be willing to take. “Would you want to be the general manager that has to fire me? That’s a bad PR move,” he said.

He then perfectly described his ideal, if unorthodox, role with the team, saying, “I think I’ve got my foot in the door, just enough where both sides kind of dig it right now.” Well, Jones’s warning is not just hypothetical; it’s a cautionary tale grounded in decades of baseball history.

The icon’s dilemma: A history of heroes in the dugout

Jones has reason to worry if you consider the tales of the other greats who pursued this route. Ted Williams, possibly the greatest hitter who ever lived, had to resign after the Texas Rangers lost 100 games in a season. Mel Ott, the New York Giants icon, was once randomly relieved from his duties as well. These legends discovered first-hand that on-field genius does not necessarily equal dugout success.

The Braves organization itself has struggled with it in the past. Eddie Mathews is one particularly painful example. A fellow Braves icon and Hall of Famer, he took the managerial role after retiring and oversaw the team during Hank Aaron’s historic 715th home run, one of the most celebrated moments in baseball history. Even that magical moment couldn’t save him, as he was infamously fired just 99 games into the 1974 season.

This entire conversation is happening at a pivotal and difficult time for the Braves. The 2025 season has been a tough go for them. By mid-July, they are at a 42-52, occupying the 4th place in the National League East. Offensively, they have been struggling, which has put the team in the bottom third of the league in runs scored. This downturn has intensified the scrutiny on manager Brian Snitker, who is currently in the final year of his contract.

It is not likely we will see Snitker fired in the middle of the season as he has got the backing of the President of Baseball Operations, Alex Anthopoulos, but many want him to take on a different role with the team.

But Snitker’s potential departure at the end of the season opens a deep and diverse pool of potential replacements. For continuity’s sake, the internal candidates are bench coach Walt Weiss and longtime coach Eddie Pérez. A prominent outside choice is former Brave and MLB Network personality Mark DeRosa, who did a great job managing Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

There are seasoned veterans like Ron Washington, David Ross, and 2023 NL Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker, as well, who offer unparalleled experience. The front office’s decision, whatever it might be, will strategically shape the future of Braves baseball.