Jared Banner didn’t need much time on the job to make clear where he stands on the Orioles’ future. At Tuesday’s introductory press conference, the new general manager emphasized player development, information-driven decision-making and a belief that the organization still has plenty of talent in the pipeline.
That didn’t mean he was ready to give a full read on the big league roster after only a week. But it did mean the conversation quickly turned to the young core that has been asked to lead the club and, in some cases, carry expectations far beyond their years.
Gunnar Henderson was one of the names that came up. Banner was asked for an evaluation of the shortstop - “yes, too soon” - and what it would take from a development standpoint to get him back to the 2024 version that made him an All-Star and finished fourth in American League Most Valuable Player voting.
Banner didn’t offer a direct scouting report on Henderson, but he did bring up a familiar comparison: Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, a player Banner pushed for as a trade target from the Mets at the 2021 deadline.
Crow-Armstrong’s trajectory is exactly the kind of arc Banner seems to have in mind. After being named an All-Star and finishing ninth in NL MVP voting in 2025, he put together a season that put him on the brink of the award. He hit .280/.372/.570 with 31 doubles, eight triples, 45 home runs, 107 RBIs, 41 stolen bases, 83 walks and a 9.8 bWAR in 162 games, while continuing to play outstanding defense in center field.
Banner pointed back to the work behind that leap.
“He wasn’t satisfied with that,” Banner said, “and we talked about never being satisfied.”
Crow-Armstrong’s earlier season had already shown plenty of production - 37 doubles, four triples, 31 home runs, 95 RBIs and 35 steals in 157 games - but it also came with a .247/.287/.481 line, 29 walks and the worst chase rate in the league. He faded over the final two months, and Banner said the response mattered.
“He went back to the drawing board and we supported him in that, and he became a 10-win player and the presumed National League MVP. So the sky’s the limit,” Banner said.
That was as close as Banner got to laying out a blueprint for Henderson. Still, the implication was hard to miss: the Orioles believe there’s more in there.
“We’re not putting any ceilings on any of these guys. We are going to raise the standard, protect that standard and get after it.”
The challenge, of course, is that Henderson can’t be the only one moving forward. Banner’s remarks made clear the Orioles need major steps from Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo, along with better health across the group. Basallo, in particular, needs to be durable and as dangerous at the plate as he looked at times.
Banner also made it clear that analytics are not going anywhere. Mike Elias built that side of the organization after arriving in November 2018, and Banner said the club isn’t about to tear any of it down. He aligned himself with Elias on the value of that work, while leaving room for a more flexible mix that also includes old-school instruction and hands-on teaching from people such as Cal Ripken Jr.
“I just think we want to make information-based decisions,” Banner said. “We want to gather as much information as we can.
That can be in data, that can be in scouting reports. It can be in a lot of other things.
And then collate that information and then compare that to our short- and long-term goals and make good decisions.
“Ultimately, this is all about decision-making, and that’s what we’re gonna focus on.”
That same blend of evaluation and development extends to the minors, where Banner sees plenty to work with. The Orioles’ farm system was ranked No. 1 from the middle of 2021 to mid-2024 before graduations and trades knocked it down. The draft and selling over the last two seasons helped push it back up to No. 2 by FanGraphs and tied for second by ESPN, while Baseball America ranked it fifth and MLB.com seventh.
“I think it’s a top five farm system in the league,” Banner said. “I think there’s a ton of talent down there and most importantly, it’s fairly close to the major league level.
It’s not talent we’re gonna have to wait a long time on. We should see some of that talent in the major leagues this season.”
In Other News...
Orioles Face A Big Colton Cowser Decision This Offseason
Colton Cowser gave the Orioles plenty to think about in center field this season, and not just because of the bat. His glove stood out all year, with the defensive metrics backing up what the eye test suggested: he handled the position well and gave Baltimore the kind of range and reliability it wants up the middle. For a team that values run prevention as much as the Orioles do, that kind of defense matters.
The bigger question is whether that defense is enough to make him an everyday answer in center, especially after an offense that never settled into a consistent rhythm and pushed him into more of a platoon role. How president of baseball operations Mike Elias and manager Craig Albernaz sort through that will shape one of Baltimores more interesting offseason decisions, because Cowsers future may come down to whether the Orioles believe his overall profile fits a full-time job or a more specialized one. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Helsley's Orioles Return Sets Up A Bullpen Question
Ryan Helsley is set to remain in Baltimore, giving the Orioles another power arm to factor into what could be a much deeper bullpen next season. The club expects Helsley to join Flix Bautista in the late-inning mix, a pairing that, on paper, gives the Orioles a far different look than they had for much of this past year.
The bigger question is how much of Helsley the Orioles can count on after a season interrupted by right elbow inflammation and repeated trips to the injured list. He was limited to 17 games, so while the return is welcome, Baltimore still has to find out whether it is getting a stabilizing bridge piece or simply adding another health-related variable to its relief plans. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Just Made A Front Office Change Fans Should Watch Closely
The Orioles have made a notable shift in their front office by hiring Jared Banner as general manager, while Mike Elias stays in place as president of baseball operations. The move gives Baltimore a clearer division of labor at the top, with Banner stepping into a role that puts him closer to the day-to-day heartbeat of the organization as the club looks to keep building under a structure that has been intentionally small.
What makes this worth watching is how much Banners arrival could shape the next phase of the Orioles operation. The front office is expected to grow, and Banner will be the one helping lead those hiring decisions as Baltimore expands around him. For a team trying to sustain its success, the change is less about a title and more about how quickly the new setup gels behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]