New Orioles GM Jared Banner met the Baltimore media for the first time on Tuesday. He started by speaking directly to the fans.
“I know you’re frustrated. It’s been a rough couple of years,” Banner said. “We’re going to build a winner here in Baltimore.”
Who is Jared Banner?
The Orioles hired Banner on Oct. 19. He comes from the Chicago Cubs, where he was assistant general manager.
He has worked in baseball front offices for close to two decades:
- Chicago Cubs: assistant GM since 2024, and vice president of player development before that
- New York Mets: vice president of player personnel
- Boston Red Sox: about 11 years, with World Series rings in 2007, 2013 and 2018
Who does what now
Mike Elias had been doing two jobs. He was hired as GM eight years ago. Before the 2025 season, he also became president of baseball operations.
Now the work is split:
- Elias stays president and focuses on scouting and adding new talent.
- Banner runs player development, coaching and performance.
“Jared will take over everything to do with our internal players, our internal coaches,” Elias said.
The two will still work together on strategy, staffing and building the roster. Elias called Banner “one of the rising talents in our league.”
Other front office changes
Banner’s hire is not the only move:
- Sig Mejdal no longer runs the analytics department. The assistant GM will now study new technology and methods across baseball operations.
- Matt Blood has left the club. He was vice president of player and staff development, and the split was mutual.
The Orioles say more changes are possible this offseason.
Why it matters
Baltimore went 79-82 in 2026 and finished fourth in the AL East. It was the team’s second straight losing season.
The Orioles still have a young core. Putting a GM in charge of development shows the club believes its problem is turning talent into wins, not finding the talent.
