BALTIMORE -- After consecutive postseason appearances in 2023 and '24, the Orioles' 2025 season brought disappointment and a last-place finish in the American League East. Their '26 campaign hasn't exactly gone to plan, either.
Entering Saturday's game vs. Milwaukee, Baltimore had a 75-79 record and sat three games back of the third AL Wild Card spot (held by the White Sox) with only eight still to play. It seems likely the O's could miss the playoffs for the second straight year, barring a late surge.
But president of baseball operations Mike Elias remains confident in the organization's long-term future, one that he believes will still include him.
"That’s my assumption," Elias said Saturday when asked if he'd be back in 2027. "I work every day. It’s a big responsibility kind of stewarding the franchise, and I remain focused on that every day and what is the best decision for the organization and the franchise in that moment."
Elias addressed various important topics during an 18-minute media session. Here were the biggest takeaways.
Craig Albernaz will return as O's manager in 2027
It would have been surprising for the Orioles to part ways with Albernaz after only one season, even though the team underperformed under his watch. The 43-year-old was hired last offseason as a fresh voice who had a strong reputation around baseball, and he'll get an opportunity to help Baltimore get back on track.
"We’re going to continue to build around Craig," Elias said. "There are a lot of positives to what he brings to the table, but I look at where we are, our record, and how we feel like we’ve disappointed ourselves this season, and I think it means all of us have room to get better and improve. So we’re kind of focused on that."
The Orioles could hire a new general manager
Prior to the 2025 season, Elias was promoted to president of baseball operations while also retaining his previous title of general manager. He said it was possible the club could hire a GM to serve under him, but that didn't come to fruition last offseason.
But Baltimore remains on the hunt for somebody who could assume that title and work underneath Elias, who seems more aggressive in his pursuit of bringing in at least one new executive to add to the front office before the 2027 campaign.
"I plan on going out and trying to talk to the talented executives from other teams. We have titles available that we can use to try to gain permission to talk to people. That’s one of them. And I expect to do that," Elias said. "I think that we’re in a position where we have a lot of things going for us, but we’re on the smaller side and we would like to explore outside help and outside talent. The owners and I have been discussing that. They’re very supportive, and they will be very supportive of anyone new that we bring in this organization, as well. They’re looking to build.
"So we want to enhance the department, get bigger, get better. And we’re going to be leaning into that quite a bit this fall."
As the O's try to return to being a top team in the AL, it could be beneficial to bring in some new voices.
"We want to hear outside perspectives," Elias said. "There are a lot of teams having a lot of success, and we want to learn from those people."
Assistant GM Sig Mejdal's new role was a collaborative decision
It was reported on Friday that Mejdal was shifting duties within the Orioles' front office. Rather than be in charge of the club's analytics department, he will now oversee the research of emerging technologies and innovative practices across baseball operations while retaining his title.
Elias said this decision was reached in a collaborative way
"Sig is going to be much more focused on what was already a big part of his job, and that’s sort of keeping an eye on the frontier, emerging technologies and kind of new methods for whatever it is that we do across the organization, and that requires a lot of engagement with the outside world, vendors, visiting places," Elias said. "He’s going to kind of ramp up his efforts in that area and be more exclusively focused in that area."
Various executives will now take on larger roles in analytics, Elias said. He named senior director of baseball systems and analytics operations Di Zou, director of pro player analytics Ryan Hardin, director of Draft analytics Michael Weis and director of data science operations Daniel Martin as those who will take on more responsibilities.
But Baltimore could add to its analytics department (and other areas of the front office) as well.
"I don’t want to close the door on any more change, and we’re still in the midst of our staffing and hiring cycle," Elias said. "I want to get some help, some higher-level voices if we can, and we’re going to be leaning into that effort and throwing the door open toward that very strongly starting now."