Elias and Banner outline Orioles rebuild strategy in Las Vegas

The Baltimore Orioles spent the last two seasons falling short of the postseason, resulting in back-to-back losing years.

General Manager Jared Banner and President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias addressed the team’s direction at Major League Baseball’s general managers meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Elias said the front office has maintained a business-as-usual approach despite a potential lockout looming in December.

The team has scheduled a packed calendar of meetings with agents representing potential acquisition targets, including Scott Boras.

Boras represents several players of interest, such as outfielder Randy Arozarena and left-hander Tarik Skubal.

The Orioles are actively seeking to retain left-hander Trevor Rogers, either through a new contract or his acceptance of a one-year qualifying offer by November 17.

Elias noted that Rogers has been excellent for the team over the last year and a half and fits well in the rotation.

The front office is also looking to add more than one starting pitcher to the rotation.

While comfortable with catchers Samuel Basallo and Carlos Narváez, Elias said the team may add depth options.

Narváez, acquired in the Adley Rutschman trade with the Red Sox, hit .104 in 33 games for Baltimore, but Elias expects a better performance in 2027.

Elias stated that the infield is the only position group where the team feels truly comfortable with its depth.

Manager Craig Albernaz has begun discussions with several athletic infielders about playing outfield, a move Elias declined to detail further by name in his remarks to the press on Tuesday morning at the convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the front office gathered intelligence on the market, with Elias adding that the team is listening to offers but is not motivated to move on from any specific piece, noting that it is very unlikely for core players like shortstop Gunnar Henderson to be traded, while Banner emphasized the need for better fielding, pointing out that the Orioles led the league in unearned runs conceded last year and that the defense was too sloppy to win games, and Elias identified hard work, better acquisitions, and improved positioning through analytics as the three key areas for improvement, saying the team has developed better information on defensive positioning over the last year, and the front office is also pleased with its pitching prospects, which Elias described as better than they have been since his arrival, noting that right-hander Anthony Eyanson, the team's top-ranked prospect according to Baseball America, posted a 1.54 ERA in 99 1/3 minor league innings in 2026 and has a chance to break big league camp, along with right-hander Michael Forret, left-hander Caden Hunter, and left-hander Joseph Dzierwa, all of whom could reach the majors in 2027.