Mike Elias has had plenty of time to shape the Orioles, and the verdict is hard to dress up: the run has not been a full success.
Baltimore hired Elias before the 2019 season after a 47-win year, and he set about tearing the roster down and building from the ground up. In his eighth season running the club, the Orioles have reached the playoffs only twice, and the sense is that the high point may already be behind them.
The breakthrough finally came in 2023, when Baltimore got back to October for the first time since 2016. The Orioles won the AL East with a 101-61 record, only to be swept in three games by the eventual World Series champion Rangers.
A year later, they returned as a Wild Card team and lost two straight to the Royals. Then came a missed postseason in 2025, with another absence looking possible in 2026.
Elias deserves credit for one major piece of the turnaround. He rebuilt the farm system and helped bring in the young core that powered those playoff teams.
His draft work produced Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Jackson Holiday and others. The frustration comes from what has happened since: he has not built enough around that talent, and he has not sustained a winner.
That’s where the comparison to Houston comes in. The Astros recently moved on from general manager Dana Brown even while sitting atop the AL West.
The argument here is that Baltimore should act with the same urgency. If that wasn’t enough for Houston, the question is why it should be enough in Baltimore.
There is also a real sense of risk around what comes next. Elias already started the Orioles’ teardown, but now there are trade rumors around Henderson and questions about whether another rebuild or re-tool is coming. The source of the concern is simple: before that process goes any further, ownership should make a change.
Baltimore is currently on the outside looking in, trailing the Guardians by 1.5 games for the final Wild Card spot while also fighting the Blue Jays, Rangers and Twins. With an extremely strong final month needed just to get back into the field, the case is to move now, start the search, and avoid a rushed decision once the offseason arrives.
If the Orioles do sneak into the postseason, the argument goes, it would feel more like luck than proof of a sound plan.
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Longtime Camden Chat commenters know how much a familiar voice can shape the daily rhythm around a team, and Jakubazookas was one of those presences for years. He was active in Orioles discussions, brought a clear passion for the club, and even shared a little of his life beyond baseball through a baking hobby that made him more than just another screen name to regulars.
His death last month, in what was described as an apparent act of random violence while he was walking to work, has left that community mourning a loss that feels deeply personal. His family has set up a GoFundMe to help his wife with expenses, a reminder that for all the online back-and-forth, the people behind those usernames are very real, and sometimes the sadness reaches far beyond the comment section. [Read more 🡒]
Playoff Power Bat Slipped Away For One Reason Padres Could Not Control
The Orioles have a chance to jump the line for a player who suddenly found himself available in the middle of the stretch run. The Mets placed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on outright waivers, and Baltimore claimed him, giving the club a shot at adding a proven bat without having to wait for the usual trade-market wrangling. For a team still sorting out its late-season picture, that kind of waiver claim can carry real weight.
Baltimores path to Robert came with a bit of timing and a little luck, since the Padres were also in the mix but did not have the waiver priority to get it done. Even so, the move does not immediately change Roberts status with New York, because he remains eligible to keep playing for the Mets while the waiver process plays out. That leaves the Orioles watching a situation that is still unresolved, but one with plenty of implications if it lands their way. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Roster Churn Just Cost Them More Pitching Depth
The Orioles recent roster churn reached another pitching layer when the Mets claimed right-hander Cameron Weston off waivers and sent him to Triple-A Syracuse. Weston had been in Baltimores organization as another arm worth keeping around for depth, the kind of pitcher teams are reluctant to lose when the staff is already stretched thin, but the waiver process left the Orioles exposed.
Shawn Ross was the corresponding move on New Yorks side, with the catcher designated for assignment to clear a 40-man spot. Ross now goes on waivers and could be claimed again, or outrighted if he clears, while Baltimore is left sorting through yet another reminder that pitching depth can disappear quickly when roster spots start moving around. [Read more 🡒]