Mike Elias deserves credit for taking the 2018 Orioles and turning them into a playoff team. He drafted well, hired a solid manager for a rebuilding squad, and injected talent into the organization without spending in free agency. After a few dark seasons, the Birds returned to relevancy ahead of schedule. They secured a division title in 2023, and clinched consecutive postseason appearances under the guidance of Elias and Brandon Hyde.
Unfortunately, Elias deserves criticism for Baltimore’s decline in 2025. The president of baseball operations allowed the team’s top starter and slugger to walk without viable replacements, and the organization failed to produce anything close to the depth needed during an injury-riddled season. Hyde’s time ran its course, and the club dug too deep of a hole under Elias’ watch.
A setback in 2025 brought a new sense of urgency to Baltimore. Elias has had his moments, but it’s time for the team’s top executive to deliver the full package.
Elias drafted Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg. He traded for top arms Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers. Now, it’s time to boost the club with external additions.
Elias and the Orioles matched the top offer for Kyle Schwarber, but the power hitter returned to Philadelphia on a five year, $150 million deal. The move demonstrated that the team is willing to spend, but that alone will not save the O’s. Free agency requires teams and players to come to an agreement. Schwarber elected to rejoin the Phillies, but other big bats remain on the open market.
The Orioles can probably still compete without signing Kyle Tucker or Pete Alonso. Guys like Rutschman, Westburg, Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, and Ryan Mountcastle should improve after disappointing seasons, and the team expects great things from rookies Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers. Gunnar Henderson is still Gunnar Henderson, and Elias acquired Taylor Ward to provide power from the right side.
On the other hand, there’s no denying Baltimore’s need for starting pitching. Elias passed on Dylan Cease, but Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez remain available for the taking. Elias traded for Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin, but he’s never pulled the trigger on a top free agent pitcher. The move comes with significant risk—especially for a smaller market team—but it’s time to roll the dice.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi went on the Ryan Ripken show yesterday and spoke candidly about Baltimore’s near misses in free agency. “If you are disciplined, you will finish perfectly 2nd or 3rd for every player you want.”
Should the Orioles have made Schwarber an offer he couldn’t refuse? Not necessarily. Do the Orioles need to offer another player more money than any other team is willing to spend? Absolutely. Dodging bad contracts doesn’t win playoff games, and Elias has the resources to improve the team.
Elias and the Orioles offered Corbin Burnes a higher average annual value than any other team last offseason, but the ace eventually chose a team closer to home. The front office appeared to place all their eggs in that one basket, and Baltimore failed to take another serious run at a top arm. Elias cannot afford to take the same approach this offseason.
Elias constructed a postseason roster by building out the best farm system in baseball. The Orioles went on a unprecedented run of three-consecutive seasons with the top prospect in the game. Several of the organization’s top picks became legitimate contributors, and he used an embarrassment of prospects to facilitate trades for starting pitchers.
Baltimore’s farm system fell off as prospects graduated to the big leagues. With the Orioles picking later in the draft, Vance Honeycutt and Griff O’Ferrall (the team’s top two picks from 2024) failed to carry anything close to the upside as Rutschman and Henderson. Now, with Basallo and Beavers set to graduate, Elias must preserve the potential on the farm.
He got started with a fire sale last July. Elias acquired 15 total prospects at the deadline with six immediately jumping into the club’s Top 30 according to MLB Pipeline. The Orioles just missed out on a top five pick in the 2026, but the team will still make a top 10 selection for the first time since 2022. The next draft will prove pivotal, especially if the team hopes to buy at the trade deadline next season.
Elias took a first pass at shoring up the bullpen by signing closer Ryan Helsley and re-acquiring Andrew Kittredge. With respect to both relievers, the hiring of new skipper Craig Albernaz could represent the most significant deal of the offseason to this point. The front office and ownership tabbed Albernaz as the right leader at the right time for Baltimore, and Elias needs the group to be right.
The general manager always comes under scrutiny when a team falls short of expectations. Elias holds a demonstrated ability to identify talent and assemble a competitive team. Now, with the stakes higher than ever, it’s time for the POBO to show he can put everything together.