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Washington: I thought I had the Braves' manager job

Kelley L Cox / Reuters

The Atlanta Braves hired Brian Snitker as the team's manager on Tuesday after a three-way race that also included Bud Black and Ron Washington came down to a close finish. So close, in fact, that Washington actually thought the job was his.

"I thought my interview was good to the point I got that I had the (manager’s) job, no doubt in my mind," Washington told John Hickey of The Mercury News. "But you never know what the other side is thinking and how it will go. They offered me a different job in the organization.

"They really liked the job Brian Snitker did as their interim guy, which is good. But I felt taking this job was good for me and my family."

Washington, who was manager of the Texas Rangers from 2007-14 and led them to two American League pennants, ended up being hired as Atlanta's third-base coach after spending the past two seasons in the same role with the Oakland Athletics.

He joined a Braves staff also featuring bench coach Terry Pendleton, first base coach Eddie Perez, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, assistant hitting coach Jose Castro, bullpen coach Marty Reed, and pitching coach Chuck Hernandez.

The Braves finished 68-93 during the 2016 campaign, but were 37-35 after the All-Star break.

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