Soto’s Atlanta Ultimatum: Braves Manager’s Stark Words After Record Deal Expose a High-Stakes Rivalry, Demanding Immediate Impact and a Relentless Pursuit of Playoff Supremacy
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto are reunited in the NL East.
Understandably, Snitker isn’t too thrilled about facing Soto 13 times a year.
Long before Soto signed a record-setting 15-year, $765 million contract, he regularly tormented Snitker’s Braves while on the Washington Nationals. Soto enters the season owning a .325 average, 19 home runs, 51 RBI, and an incredible 1.118 OPS in 77 games against the Braves.
Soto’s .325 average is his highest against any team he’s faced at least 30 times.
“I was rooting for him to get a nice little deal in the American League,” Snitker told Foul Territory.
Snitker offered far different commentary at December’s Winter Meetings in Texas.
“I don’t really care who signs who, what teams put together, things like that because we still have to play for six months,” Snitker said, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
No such luck for Snitker. Instead, Soto returned to the NL East and he’ll be there long after the 69-year-old Snitker retires.
At least Atlanta’s pitching handled Soto, then with the New York Yankees, during a three-game series last summer. Soto only went 2-for-10 last June.
Snitker has a few months to think about how he’ll approach Soto. The Braves and Mets don’t clash until a three-game set in Atlanta from June 17-19. The Mets host the Braves for a four-game set the following week.
