The Baltimore Orioles find themselves at a pivotal crossroads as the 2025-2026 Major League Baseball offseason unfolds. With the search for a new manager underway, a flurry of speculation, opinions, and organizational soul-searching has gripped both the clubhouse and the wider baseball community. The Orioles are one of eight franchises currently seeking fresh leadership, and while interim manager Tony Mansolino has earned the respect and endorsement of his players, president of baseball operations Mike Elias is casting a wider net in pursuit of the ideal candidate.
What exactly are the Orioles looking for in their next skipper? The answer, it seems, lies in a return to baseball’s fundamentals—a style reminiscent of the early 1990s, prioritizing manufacturing runs over the long ball. This isn’t just idle talk; it’s a necessity for a club whose offensive power took a notable dip in 2025. Not a single Orioles player hit more than 17 home runs this past season, a stark contrast to their 2024 campaign when they ranked second in MLB for homers. The need to win games without relying on slugging has become glaringly apparent, especially as the team’s run production faltered in key moments.
Mansolino, for his part, is acutely aware of this challenge. During his season-ending press conference, he didn’t mince words: “I think we need to get better at (manufacturing runs) in a lot of ways,” he said, according to Masn’s Roch Kubatko. “And to me, that’s a spring training thing. I think these guys have to be pushed in spring training to turn back the clock a little bit and have the ability to play more of an early ‘90s style of the game. It’s a really hard thing to do during the season to put that type of stuff in place when you’ve got some players who go through a minor league system or a college career, and they don’t bunt a lot. It’s hard to ask them to do that of a guy who’s throwing 100 in the ninth inning for the first time. That version of the game is an area where I think the staff here in place next year can make it better, and the time to do that is spring training.”
That’s the blueprint Mansolino has laid out, and it’s one that aligns closely with Elias’s vision for the future—at least in terms of philosophy. Yet, Elias has stopped short of committing to Mansolino as the permanent solution. “It’s not up to me to get down there and dictate our fundamentals,” Elias stated. “That’s not my expertise. But we’ve got to put together stats and communication systems and people that have the right philosophies in all those areas and stay on top of it. So that’s something that the person in the manager's chair, people in the front office, people in our ownership group, just everyone available who is an expert in that area, we’re going to put a lot of time into getting organized and getting a little bit better next year.”
So, if not Mansolino, then who? The rumor mill has churned out names like Skip Schumaker, Mark DeRosa, David Ross, and Ryan Flaherty. Most recently, Luis Rojas, former New York Mets manager and current Yankees third base coach, was confirmed to have interviewed with Baltimore as of October 14, 2025. But perhaps the most intriguing endorsement came from former Orioles closer Gregg Olson, who threw his support behind veteran manager Bob Melvin. Melvin’s resume is as robust as they come—he’s managed the Mariners, Diamondbacks, Athletics, Padres, and Giants, bringing a wealth of experience and a reputation for steady leadership.
“[Melvin] would be a good fit. He’s very good at what he does,” Olson said on Glenn Clark Radio. “I was shocked that he got fired. Talking about San Francisco, they sold at the deadline and then leave him with absolutely nothing. They were in the playoff hunt, and then they fire him at the end of the year. That doesn’t make any sense. I think he’d be a good fit.” Olson and Melvin were teammates in Baltimore from 1989 to 1991, adding a layer of familiarity to Olson’s endorsement.
Still, Olson cautioned against expecting a managerial change to solve all the Orioles’ woes overnight. “All the managers getting fired, it’s ultimately my fault as a player,” Olson reflected. “The manager makes moves in-game and will affect, let’s say, 33 percent of the games just by his bullpen moves, et cetera. But if guys aren’t performing, there’s nothing the manager can do. I’m trying to figure out what type of manager would be that guy that would pick up and bolster the organization.”
The Orioles’ recent history is a tale of highs and lows. In 2023, they soared to a 101-61 record and looked like a team on the cusp of greatness. Their 91-71 finish in 2024 kept them in the thick of the AL East race, but injuries and underperformance in 2025 saw them stumble. One key factor was the rough season endured by star catcher Adley Rutschman. After a stellar 2023—where he finished ninth in AL MVP voting and claimed a Silver Slugger Award—Rutschman’s production dipped to career lows in 2025, mirroring the team’s struggles. Olson believes that a period of offseason reset could be just what the doctor ordered, both for Rutschman and the club at large.
Looking to the future, the Orioles’ farm system, once the envy of baseball, has slipped to 15th in MLB Pipeline’s rankings as of October 2025. That drop is largely due to the graduation of top prospects to the majors and some recent draft picks not panning out as hoped. Yet, there’s still plenty of promise in the pipeline. Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers remain the top prospects, poised to make an impact in 2026 once they accrue enough major league at-bats. The 2025 draft class has injected fresh talent into the organization, with catcher Ike Irish, shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, outfielder Slater de Brun, and catcher Carter Bodine all cracking the top 10 prospect list. Outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., the 2023 top pick, continues to draw attention for his electrifying play and defensive prowess.
Bradfield’s recent performance in the Arizona Fall League is a testament to his potential. On October 16, 2025, he went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, three stolen bases, and made a jaw-dropping, home run-saving catch to seal a Peoria Javelinas victory. Despite injuries limiting him to 76 games in 2025, Bradfield’s speed and glove have made him a standout. In 50 games at Double-A Chesapeake, he slashed .269/.393/.386 with 26 steals. With Cedric Mullins no longer in the picture, Bradfield could be Baltimore’s center fielder of the future, though his limited Triple-A experience suggests a mid-2026 debut is more likely. For now, Colton Cowser appears to be the leading candidate to patrol center on Opening Day, unless the Orioles look to free agency or a trade.
The organization’s minor league ranks are still brimming with intriguing arms and bats. Outfielder Nate George, the 2025 minor league player of the year, dazzled with a .337 average and 50 stolen bases. Pitchers like Esteban Mejia, Boston Bateman, and Trey Gibson headline a group of young arms looking to break through. Some prospects, such as Braxton Bragg and Patrick Reilly, are in recovery from Tommy John surgery, but the depth remains encouraging.
As the Orioles weigh their options for the manager’s chair and look to rejuvenate both their roster and farm system, the sense around Baltimore is one of cautious optimism. The right hire could unlock the potential that’s been simmering beneath the surface, but as Gregg Olson wisely noted, it’ll take more than a new face in the dugout to restore the Orioles to their winning ways. For now, all eyes are on the front office as they chart the next chapter in the storied franchise’s journey.
