Braves interview interim manager, three coaches for job in 2017

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves have interviewed interim manager Brian Snitker and three coaches for the full-time job heading into 2017.

Snitker met with president of baseball operations John Hart and general manager John Coppolella earlier this week. Hart and Coppolella also spoke with bench coach Terry Pendleton, first-base coach Eddie Perezand third-base coach Bo Porterabout the job.

Hart and Coppolella are expected to begin the process of interviewing candidates outside the organization after the season ends Sunday.

Snitker said the interview was his first, for any position, in 40 years with the Braves.

He managed 20 years in the minor leagues, worked seven years as third-base coach under Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox and was in his third Triple-A stint when the Braves promoted him to replace Fredi Gonzalez on May 17.

When Snitker took charge, Atlanta had the majors' worst offense and a shaky pitching staff. It took until late September for Atlanta to no longer have the majors' worst record.

The Braves are 57-65 under Snitker and had won 10 of 11 before Friday's loss to Detroit. They still have the fewest home wins in the majors, 29, in their final season at Turner Field.

Pendleton, Perez and Porter confirmed Saturday to The Associated Press that they have been interviewed, but they declined to give details.

Pendleton, a Braves assistant coach for 15 years, was the 1991 National League MVP and a major reason why Atlanta went from worst to first and advanced to its first World Series that year.

Perez, the MVP of the 1999 National League Championship Series, played 18 of his 20 seasons in Atlanta. He's in his 10th year as a coach.

Porter, in his second year as an Atlanta coach, managed the Houston Astros to a 121-203 record in 2013-14.