Mike Elias is not the sentimental type. The Orioles’ president of baseball operations had no trouble trading off the most senior Oriole, Cedric Mullins, and while he did try reunions with Kyle Gibson and Mychal Givens, he quickly jettisoned them when their second iterations didn’t work out. The Orioles will need outfielders for 2026, and […]

Question: Who is the greatest clutch hitter in Orioles history? Which player most often rose to the occasion on a consistent basis? From: Timothy Fowler Answer: Tim, that’s a fascinating question because the Orioles have had a number of excellent clutch hitters and also because there’s no definitive meaning of clutch. However, BaseballReference.com does have […]

For three years, MLB Pipeline ranked the Orioles’ farm system as the best in baseball. It’s slipped since then due to graduations of players to the major leagues as well as recent draft choices failing to produce well in the minors. In August, Pipeline ranked the Orioles’ farm system 15th best in baseball. However, there’s […]

Question: If Mike Elias was going to hire a general manager, wouldn’t it make sense to let the new general manager pick the new manager? From: Joseph Adams Answer: Joseph, Elias hasn’t said definitively that he was going to hire a general manager this offseason, and if the Orioles hired a new GM, we don’t […]

The Orioles’ Gold Glove drought will continue in 2025. Not one Orioles was among the three finalists at each position. Overall, the Orioles have won only one Gold Glove in the past decade. Ramón Urías was voted the top third baseman in 2022. He was the first Oriole Gold Glove winner since Manny Machado in […]

Around the time of the All-Star Game in July, Fox Sports selected an all-time lineup for all 30 major league clubs — an interesting endeavor. When I saw the Orioles’ lineup, I agreed with some of the choices and disagreed with others, sensing my blood pressure rising as I perused the selections. If the goal […]

As Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias contemplates the 2026 team, he’ll start with the starters. The Orioles started 16 different pitchers in 2025. Five openers — Keegan Akin, Scott Blewett, Dietrich Enns, Rico Garcia and Albert Suárez — combined to start seven games, mostly late in the season. It’s possible that the 36-year-old […]

Question: Do you think the Orioles will add bunting to their arsenal this winter for a team that is situationally challenged? From: Les Diver Answer: Les, the Orioles should bunt more. They had just four sacrifice bunts in 2025, fewest in baseball and rarely attempted to bunt for hits. If Tony Mansolino is the fulltime […]

It’s been more than two weeks since interim manager Tony Mansolino and president of baseball operations Mike Elias addressed the media, and there’s been no information on who will be the Orioles’ manager in 2026. Since Elias addressed the media, the number of managerial vacancies has grown. On Monday, it grew further with the surprise […]

Question: Do you have any confidence in Colton Cowser after seeing him hit under .200? From: Eric Answer: Eric, I also got a question about Colton Cowser from Carl LaVerghetta in Annapolis, who wants to know if analytics are a real factor in a ballplayer’s performance, why is Cowser in the everyday lineup? Cowser’s 2025 […]

During last December’s Winter Meetings, the Orioles conceded they wouldn’t be re-signing slugger Anthony Santander, who finished 2024 with 44 home runs, seventh-most in a season. Santander didn’t sign with the Toronto Blue Jays until January 20th, but the Orioles thought they had a replacement for him in Tyler O’Neill, an outfielder who hit 31 […]

Now that the American League Championship Series are set and the World Series will begin on October 24th, the timeframe for Orioles’ offseason decisions has become narrower. Let’s look at some of the key dates and decisions that must be made as the offseason revs up. Who manages the Orioles in 2026? President of baseball […]

For the second straight season, Jordan Westburg missed a significant time because of injuries. In 2024, the 26-year-old third baseman broke his right hand when he was hit by a pitch and missed most of the season’s second half. This year, he missed time because of a strained hamstring and a sprained ankle and played […]

Question: Who do you foresee as potential acquisitions this offseason, either via trade or free agency? From: Mike Sherman Answer: Mike, I think the Orioles need to sign or trade for at least two potential starting pitchers. If this season has taught us nothing else, it’s that you need many options for starting pitchers. Assuming […]

While Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias and his staff work to identify and hire the best possible man to become the club’s new field manager, I have to ask: Does it really make that much difference? There are plenty of experienced candidates out there and everyone seems to agree that this will be […]

After appearing in only five games in 2025 and a visit with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas this week, Albert Suárez received some good news. According to an Orioles’ spokesperson, Suárez suffered a mild forearm flexor strain during his last appearance of the season. He is continuing rehabilitation into the offseason and the […]

Question: If Tony Mansolino was not going to shed the interim label until the offseason (if ever), why do you think the Orioles waited to work on this search until now when the competition for managerial candidates is far greater than it was all summer long?  Why does it seem like we’re always a step behind […]

The Chicago Cubs’ win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series not only extended the Cubs’ season, it prevented their bench coach, Ryan Flaherty, from interviewing for the Orioles’ manager’s job for at least another day. According to Betonline.ag, Flaherty is the 2/1 favorite to become the next Orioles’ […]

The Orioles’ organization was never more loaded than it was in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The major league team reached the World Series four times in six years with a roster so brimming with future Hall of Famers and other stars that generations of younger players were stalled in the high minors, unable […]

One of the Orioles’ biggest challenges over the offseason is putting together a bullpen. While they have several accomplished starters, they traded away four key bullpen pieces — Bryan Baker, Seranthony Domínguez, Andrew Kittredge and Gregory Soto in July. They also lost their closer, Félix Bautista, who had rotator cuff and labrum surgery and could […]

Question: As I watch the postseason, I see most teams have a good balance of young kids and seasoned veterans. I think it was Jordan Westburg who mentioned the team needed that. I agree, don’t you? From: Sandra Freund Answer: Sandra, I think the Orioles could use an infusion of accomplished veterans, perhaps two or […]

The Orioles have 14 players eligible for arbitration, one of the largest classes in the major leagues. In 2023, the Orioles offered arbitration to each of the 17 players eligible. Last year, the Orioles had 15 players eligible. Reliever Jacob Webb was not tendered a contract. Infielder Emmanuel Rivera signed a one-year, $1 million contract […]

Question: Do you think Cedric Mullins and/or Ryan O’Hearn will be back next season as free agents. Although, I think Ramón Laureano is signed for next season, is there any chance they would trade for him? From: Stell “Coach” Dorsey Answer: Coach, I got the same question from Frank Bonsiero. I don’t think Mullins or […]

In 2024, Gunnar Henderson won his second straight Most Valuable Oriole award and seemed likely to make it three straight, at least until Trevor Rogers’ dynamic three months on the mound changed the minds of many voters. Henderson’s 2025 season was considered a disappointment. That’s despite playing shortstop, the most difficult infield position, and committing […]

Among the most surprising developments of the 2025 season was that the Orioles extended their 21-year-old catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo after just five days in the major leagues. It wasn’t a surprise when Basallo was promoted to the majors on August 17th, four days after turning 21. But the eight-year, $67 million contract that includes […]