Perhaps. But to know what the Orioles need this offseason, it’s important to take inventory into what they already have.

Free agency began last week, and the free market is the easiest and best way for the Orioles to improve after a disappointing 75-87 campaign. More than $70 million has come off the payroll, and owner David Rubenstein said his ownership group is entering its second offseason without any “particular financial constraints.”

With the offseason underway and the winter meetings next month approaching, here is a look at what Baltimore’s 26-man roster would look like on opening day if the front office doesn’t make any moves.

(The following projection is based on players presently in the Orioles’ organization and does not consider those the organization could acquire.)

Starting pitchers (5): Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Grayson Rodriguez

Other options: Albert Suárez, Cade Povich, Brandon Young, Trey Gibson, Nestor German, Levi Wells

The first reaction to this rotation — without any additions this offseason, which are expected — is that it looks quite solid. Of course, that’s including the massive caveat that all of these pitchers are healthy. Assuming that would be unwise considering three of them (Bradish, Wells, Rodriguez) have undergone elbow surgery since 2024.

That’s a major reason the Orioles will likely make at least one addition to this group — and perhaps two or three. At his end-of-season news conference, president of baseball operations Mike Elias stated he wants to add a “front half of the rotation guy” to pair with Bradish and Rogers. Bradish returned healthy in 2025 as dominant as ever, while Rogers revived his career and transformed into a budding ace.

If the Orioles don’t add to this group, that gives Wells and Rodriguez — two key members of the 2023 rotation when Baltimore won 101 games — an opportunity to earn rotation spots, but health and durability remain major questions for both right-handers. Rodriguez could open the season in the bullpen or the minor leagues as he ramps up after missing all of 2025, while Wells’ past success as a reliever could make that an easy transition if the Orioles acquire better starting options this winter.

Suárez pitched the second most innings on the Orioles in 2024, while Povich and Young spent a large chunk of 2025 in Baltimore’s rotation. Suárez is far more likely to be in the bullpen given his experience in a swing role, while Povich and Young project to be in Triple-A, especially if the Orioles acquire more pitching this winter. Gibson, German and Wells are longer than long shots to crack the opening day roster, but the trio of intriguing prospects reached Triple-A last season and will push to reach the majors in 2026.

Relief pitchers (8): Andrew Kittredge, Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano, Dietrich Enns, Kade Strowd, Rico Garcia, Colin Selby, Albert Suárez

Other options: Tyler Wells, Grayson Rodriguez, Cade Povich, Chayce McDermott, Grant Wolfram, George Soriano, Anthony Nunez, Yaramil Hiraldo, Jose Espada

Injured: Félix Bautista

For the second time in three years, the Orioles will enter the offseason without a closer. After Bautista missed the 2024 season recovering from elbow surgery, he’s now slated to miss most (or all) of 2026 making his way back from shoulder surgery.

Two years ago, the Orioles signed veteran Craig Kimbrel to replace Bautista, a move that bore fruit in the first half that spoiled later in the season. Now, the Orioles enter the offseason without any legitimate closing options on the roster. Kittredge, whom the Orioles re-acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a surprising and savvy move, sits atop Baltimore’s bullpen and Wells also has closing experience, but signing one of the many closers on the market who can fill at least most of Bautista’s large shoes should be one of the front office’s biggest priorities.

The bullpen also parted ways with Bryan Baker, Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto at the deadline, and it’s likely that multiple more bullpen moves will be made by the front office. In addition to Kittredge, Akin and Cano, the Orioles agreed to a one-year deal with a team option for 2027 with Enns, increasing the likelihood of the do-it-all lefty making the club. Strowd, Garcia and Selby impressed in post-deadline tryouts but could find themselves left out if the club adds more bullpen arms this winter. Suárez seems likely to occupy the long relief role in the bullpen, though it’s possible a different starting pitcher is moved into that spot.

Wells is the most likely starter to move to the bullpen, but Rodriguez and Povich could be intriguing relievers if the Orioles have too much starting pitching. McDermott is an option for the bullpen, too, after he excelled in a relief role in Triple-A to end 2025. Wolfram and Hiraldo had up-and-down stints with the Orioles last season. And Nunez, a pitching prospect the Orioles acquired in the Cedric Mullins trade, was added to the 40-man roster last week as protection from the Rule 5 draft after his dominant ascendance up the minor league ladder.

Catchers (3): Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo, Alex Jackson

Other options: Maverick Handley

Catcher is the most solidified — and perhaps the most important — position on the Orioles’ roster. If Rutschman gets back to the player he was in 2023 and Basallo tapes his expected leap, the Orioles could enjoy the best catching duo in baseball.

It’s not a guarantee the Orioles operate a three-catcher system and it’s also not a lock that Jackson is that third backstop, but both outcomes are likely. The Orioles could prefer a third catcher with minor league options and the ability to play other positions to provide flexibility, but Jackson performed well both at the plate and behind it in 2025.

Infielders (5): Coby Mayo, Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Luis Vázquez

Other options: Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan Noda

First base is the biggest unanswered question on the Orioles’ infield. Mountcastle has spent most of the past five seasons as the club’s primary first baseman, but he is entering his final year of arbitration, which MLB Trade Rumors projects will earn him a $7.8 million salary.

It’s unclear whether the Orioles will bring back Mountcastle at that price tag or choose to part ways with a slugger whose power has greatly diminished as he’s dealt with injuries and ailments the past three seasons. Mayo could be seen as Mountcastle’s replacement, but the 23-year-old hit only .217 with a .687 OPS last season, though he crushed the ball in September with a .301 average and .941 OPS.

The rest of the Orioles’ starting infield is locked in place with Holliday at second base, Westburg at third and Henderson at shortstop. The utility spot filled by Ramón Urías was taken over by Vázquez, a glove-first player with the capability to play all four infield spots.

Outfielders (5): Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Leody Taveras, Jeremiah Jackson

Other options: Heston Kjerstad, Enrique Bradfield Jr., Pedro León

Outside of first base, the next biggest question is center field. Mullins had held down the key position since 2020, but the Orioles traded him to the New York Mets at the deadline. Cowser moved over to center and played well defensively, but he dealt with injuries and underperformance throughout the season. If the Orioles don’t make an offseason move for a center fielder, Cowser will likely open the season there, though Bradfield, one of the club’s top prospects, could push for an early season call-up thanks to his elite speed and defense.

In that scenario, Beavers and O’Neill would be expected to man the corners with Taveras, whom the Orioles signed last week, as the switch-hitting fourth outfielder who can play all three spots. If Taveras makes the roster, he could be a late-game substitute to pinch run and replace O’Neill in the outfield, moving over to center and shifting Cowser to a corner.

Jackson, who can also play third base, would remain an option in right field and designated hitter after his excellent tryout in the second half. It’s possible, though, that an Orioles addition would result in Jackson beginning the season in Triple-A. Another hitter expected to begin the year in Triple-A would be Kjerstad, who struggled mightily last season and missed the second half of the season with a bout of fatigue that the team hasn’t specified.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.

The 2026 season will test how strong Holliday’s bond with his good boy truly is.

The Orioles on Thursday released their promotion schedule for the 2026 campaign, including a bobblehead of Holliday and Coconut on April 11 when Baltimore hosts the San Francisco Giants at Camden Yards.

The power of puppy love with Coconut was first proved in April when Holliday smashed a grand slam in a win over the Cleveland Guardians with the Bernedoodle in the stands alongside the second baseman’s wife, Chloe. Holliday said during the postgame interview on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network that he always plays well when Coconut is watching.

“Thanks, Coconut,” Holliday said with a smile, later joking that he hit the slam “just for Coconut, not the team.”

Coconut Holliday in uniform https://t.co/mTeDt2F7o3 pic.twitter.com/eLdZicxRrK

— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) April 17, 2025

Holliday’s bobblehead is one of 27 promotions the Orioles will have throughout their 81-game home slate in 2026, which now have start times. First pitch for opening day at Camden Yards on March 26 against the Minnesota Twins will be 3:05 p.m.

Other players to have bobbleheads are Samuel Basallo on May 23, Jordan Westburg as part of Star Wars weekend on May 30 and Gunnar Henderson on June 27. Westburg is one of several young Orioles players who is a fan of the Star Wars franchise. In 2025, Colton Cowser and Henderson each had Star Wars bobbleheads.

The uber-popular Hawaiian shirt giveaways will be on July 24 and 25 against the Atlanta Braves. After having only one Hawaiian shirt day in previous years, the Orioles doubled that in 2025 and next season will add a kids Hawaiian shirt day on July 26.

Other noteworthy giveaways include a Kyle Bradish jersey hoodie on March 28, an Orioles hockey jersey on April 25, an Orioles soccer jersey on June 13, a Pride Night jersey on June 26, a beach towel on June 28 and a floppy hat on July 10. New giveaways include a denim crab cap on May 1, hot dog race caps on July 11 and a Hispanic heritage jersey on Sept. 18.

Also new next season will be a fan choice giveaway on Sept. 19. The Orioles say fans will have the opportunity to select a giveaway for that day as part of Fan Appreciation Weekend.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.

The Orioles have reached an agreement with outfielder Leody Taveras on a one-year, $2 million contract, a source with direct knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday morning. The Orioles announced the signing Thursday night.

Taveras, 27, has six years of MLB experience after debuting at 21 years old with the Texas Rangers in 2020. The switch-hitter sports elite speed and defensive ability in the outfield, but he’s struggled at the plate with a career .236 batting average and .651 OPS. He elected free agency in October after spending most of the 2025 season in the minor leagues.

Taveras was an important part of the Rangers’ World Series run in 2023, which was by far his best season in the majors with a .266 average and a .733 OPS. The Rangers swept the Orioles in the American League Division Series that year.

After a slow start to the 2025 season, the Rangers designated him for assignment in May and Seattle Mariners did the same in June. In 58 games, Taveras hit .205 with a .530 OPS, though he performed much better for the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate with a .280 average and an .804 OPS.

The signing adds outfield depth and several traits needed by the Orioles. Taveras is an elite defensive outfielder, which the Orioles need after a poor season with the gloves. He is also a primary center fielder who has some experience in the corners, and the Orioles need depth in center with the departure of Cedric Mullins, whom they traded away at the deadline.

Colton Cowser is expected to be the Orioles’ starting center fielder to begin 2026 unless the front office adds a starting-caliber center fielder. Taveras, who is out of minor league options, will likely serve as a fourth or fifth outfielder if he makes the team out of spring training. The Orioles could see Taveras, a former top prospect, as a reclamation project, hoping he can have a resurgence in Baltimore.

Around the horn

• Orioles prospects Enrique Bradfield Jr., Luis De León, Ethan Anderson and Tanner Smith were all selected to play in the Arizona Fall League’s All-Star Game. Outfielder Thomas Sosa will participate in the AFL’s Home Run Derby.

• The Orioles on Wednesday claimed right-handed reliever George Soriano off waivers from the Miami Marlins and designated outfielder Daniel Johnson for assignment. Soriano, 26, has a 5.95 ERA in 118 career MLB innings, though he pitched to a 2.32 ERA in Triple-A last season. Johnson was outrighted to Triple-A on Thursday.

• The San Diego Padres on Thursday exercised Ramón Laureano’s $6.5 million club option, according to multiple reports. The Orioles traded the outfielder at the deadline amid his resurgent season to the Padres alongside Ryan O’Hearn for a haul of six prospects.

Baltimore Sun reporter Matt Weyrich contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.

The Orioles’ president of baseball operations on Tuesday helped introduce Craig Albernaz as the ballclub’s new manager. A coaching staff still needs to be assembled, but the most important part of Elias’ offseason will begin Thursday.

At 5 p.m., MLB’s free agency will open. Coming off a disappointing 75-87 campaign, the Orioles are in need of significant upgrades this winter. With about 100 days until spring training begins, The Baltimore Sun’s Orioles beat reporters Jacob Calvin Meyer and Matt Weyrich answer the most pressing questions facing the team this offseason.

What is the most important roster hole the Orioles must address this offseason?

Meyer: There isn’t a wrong answer to this question. Want to say it’s the bullpen? That’s fair considering the team needs a closer and perhaps several other relievers. Want to say it’s adding an impact, veteran bat? That’s hard to argue with after the young core regressed in 2025. Want to say it’s adding to the starting rotation? Well, after how 2025 went, of course it is. The answer to this question is perhaps all three, but it’s the rotation that’s most important.

Kyle Gibson was the club’s No. 1 starter to begin 2023. Albert Suárez finished second in innings pitched in 2024. And the first half of 2025 was a disaster for the rotation. The rotation already has Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers. About $70 million in payroll came off the books. And there are ample options on the market. It is past time that the Orioles build a deep and dominant rotation that matches the goals the organization has, and that is more achievable this winter now than ever.

Weyrich: The Orioles have needs in both the rotation and lineup, but the lack of a shutdown reliever to anchor the back end of the bullpen is particularly glaring. Félix Bautista can’t be counted on for much in 2026 and what he gives them beyond next season is in doubt as well after undergoing his second major surgery in three years. Baltimore has been in the position before, signing Craig Kimbrel to be a stopgap closer while Bautista was recovering from Tommy John surgery. But the Orioles could stand to acquire a high-leverage reliever with multiple years of team control this time, giving them a boost in their playoff push for 2026 and security in case Bautista doesn’t return to form. 

Do you see the Orioles making a bigger splash in free agency or the trade market?

Meyer: This all depends on your definition of “splash.” By what most would consider a splash, Elias has made only one during his time as general manager: trading for ace Corbin Burnes before the 2024 season. But he’s yet to make one in free agency. Would a frustrated fan base appreciate Elias (and more so owner David Rubenstein) if they hand out a nine-figure contract to an ace or a power bat? Of course. But that alone isn’t a guarantee the Orioles will bounce back in 2026. Instead, the offseason should be judged by the totality of what the front office does. What’s more important than making splashes is acquiring players who definitively bolster the ballclub, rather than marginal moves around the edges like last offseason.

Weyrich: The Orioles have the means to spend this offseason after clearing their payroll of several high-priced veterans including Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano and Gary Sánchez. However, they’ve also restocked their farm system after acquiring 16 prospects at the trade deadline and making seven top-100 picks in this year’s MLB draft. While I do expect them to spend this winter to address their myriad roster holes, I think it’s more likely that money is spread around. The biggest move they make will probably be for a starting pitcher and the trade market is ripe with potential front-line options including Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Sonny Gray, MacKenzie Gore, Joe Ryan and Mitch Keller.

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is rumored to be available. How aggressive of an offer should the Orioles make Detroit?

Meyer: There is no reason for the Orioles to be anything other than aggressive in pursuit of Skubal, who would instantly give the Orioles one of the best rotations in baseball. But the Orioles’ offer almost certainly won’t be enough. Perhaps no team will meet the Tigers’ asking price and the soon-to-be back-to-back American League Cy Young will remain in Detroit. Baltimore’s farm system has depth, but (assuming Jackson Holliday and Samuel Basallo are untouchable) it lacks the type of elite prospect required to acquire a pitcher like Skubal. The Orioles must try, but the odds of them overpaying enough to convince Detroit to give up Skubal is unlikely.

Weyrich: Just as Burnes was acquired with the understanding he was going to test free agency, Skubal — a fellow Scott Boras client — would be a pure rental as well. The left-hander has been the best starting pitcher in the sport over the past two seasons and he stands to cash in next winter as a candidate to sign the largest contract ever for a pitcher. If Jackson Holliday and Samuel Basallo are untouchable, the Orioles’ best offer would likely have to include Dylan Beavers, Trey Gibson and one or two of their first-round picks from the past few drafts. Perhaps Coby Mayo as well. Even that might not be enough, but the Orioles should be willing to part with just about anyone in their farm system if it means adding Skubal to the front end of their rotation. 

After trading for Andrew Kittredge, how many more relievers will the Orioles acquire this offseason to rebuild their bullpen?

Meyer: One or two more than the math suggests. After the Kittredge trade — and, worth noting, what a combination of deals by Elias — the math might show the Orioles need two more relievers. It would be prudent to go overboard and get three or four instead. Injuries, especially to the pitching staff, have destroyed the Orioles over the past two seasons. It would be better to have a bullpen so deep that results in Rico Garcia not making the team and Kade Strowd in the minor leagues rather than opening the season with those two intriguing relievers in the bullpen. Furthermore, Elias’ track record of signing relievers isn’t great, but the sample isn’t large. The best way to improve that is to take more shots.

Weyrich: Elias made a savvy series of moves to get Kittredge into his bullpen for 2026, ensuring that he enters free agency with a dependable setup man around which he can start shaping the Orioles’ late-inning assignments. He’ll need at least two more to prevent the unit from being a liability and that’s how many I see the team acquiring this winter. In addition to Kittredge, the Orioles also have Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin and Dietrich Enns as likely candidates to crack the opening day bullpen. Should they add a closer and another setup man, that would leave them with two open slots — one for the likes of Garcia, Strowd and others to battle for and one for the starter who gets bumped from the rotation because of their offseason moves (read: Tyler Wells or Grayson Rodriguez). 

What under-the-radar free agents or trade targets should Orioles fans keep an eye on?

Meyer: This doesn’t count as “under-the-radar,” but this is just a roundtable about a silly game, so let’s break the rules. At the 2024 trade deadline, I predicted the Orioles would trade for Tampa Bay Rays starter Zach Eflin — and that they did. It would be smart for me to quit while I’m ahead, but what’s the fun in that? Here’s another prediction (based purely on conjecture): The Orioles will trade for Milwaukee Brewers starter Freddy Peralta. Baltimore needs another front-of-the-rotation starter to pair with Bradish and Rogers. Peralta has been one of the best and most consistent and durable pitchers in baseball over the past five seasons with a 3.30 ERA and 30-plus starts in three straight campaigns. Elias now has the prospect depth to be able to line up a deal like this. The Brewers have proven they have little issue making trades like this after they did so with Burnes. And the Orioles and Brewers front offices share similar philosophies and views of minor league talent, perhaps making it easier to find middle ground.

Weyrich: Center field is another key area the Orioles need to address this offseason after trading Cedric Mullins at the deadline. Colton Cowser could still be their everyday center fielder of the future, but he still showed some room to grow at the position and his injury history makes it difficult to bank on him playing 150 games there in 2026. Two free agents who could be a solid fit for Baltimore at the position are Harrison Bader and Trent Grisham. Bader would be the choice if defense is the priority, grading out as a plus defender with fantastic range who could help take the load off both Cowser and Tyler O’Neill in the corners. Grisham is more league average in center but is coming off a career year at the plate with 34 home runs and an .811 OPS. 

After ranking 15th at $162 million last year, where will the Orioles rank in 2026 opening day payroll?

Meyer: 15th

Weyrich: 11th

Who will sign Kyle Tucker and for how much?

Meyer: New York Yankees — 12 years, $360 million

Weyrich: Los Angeles Dodgers — 12 years, $325 million

Who will sign Framber Valdez and for how much?

Meyer: New York Mets — 7 years, $210 million

Weyrich: Philadelphia Phillies — 7 years, $235 million

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer and Matt Weyrich at mweyrich@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich.

The Orioles introduced skipper Craig Albernaz at a news conference inside the Warehouse, welcoming the 43-year-old and his thick Boston accent, wife and three kids. Albernaz, president of baseball operations Mike Elias and owner David Rubenstein spent about 45 minutes answering questions about the ballclub’s new leader and the future of the organization.

Here are five things we learned:

Albernaz chose the Orioles as much as they chose him

A throwaway comment from Albernaz was perhaps the most revealing of the news conference.

“I think Mike would probably tell you, he’d probably wish I was a little more — had more pep in my step in the process,” Albernaz said with a smile.

Rubenstein’s first comment about Albernaz implied a similar dynamic.

“Mike interviewed a number of people. So did I. At the beginning when we were talking to people, people said, ‘This person you’re interviewing is good, but if you can get Craig, you’ll really be fortunate,’” Rubenstein said. “They kept saying, ‘He’s the guy you should get. You may not get him, but if you can get him, that’s the guy you want.’ So, when we talked to him, we realized why everybody said that. He’s very impressive.”

Of course, this is an incredible opportunity for Albernaz, one he called a “dream come true.” But he was not desperate to become a major league manager. Last offseason, he was a finalist for two jobs and seemed poised for a managerial job before removing himself from consideration to accept a promotion from the Cleveland Guardians.

While Albernaz has no big league managerial experience, he was seen as one of the top candidates on the market because of his reputation around the game and his experience working in some of the best organizations in baseball. In that way, Albernaz chose the Orioles just as much as they chose him.

“I think at that point in time, I felt like I was ready,” Albernaz said when asked about last offseason. “But deep down, you’re just kind of like, ‘Do you want to take that next step?’ It’s a big job. I wanted to make sure that whichever organization I go to, I was really ready to jump in and dive in. Going through the process, meeting David and Mike and the rest of the front office, it really was, to me, an easy decision.”

During his end-of-season news conference, Elias was asked directly about whether experience was something he wanted in a new manager. He said, essentially, yes, but that it wasn’t a prerequisite. What’s more important than experience are confidence and cachet and clout. It appears Albernaz, despite his inexperience, possesses those qualities.

His family being a major part of his introduction informs who Albernaz is

Albernaz couldn’t stop smiling.

As Elias opened the news conference with a long statement about why he chose Albernaz to be the Orioles’ next skipper, Albernaz had a smile on his face — but not because of what Elias was saying. Albernaz’s 2-year-old daughter, Gigi, was a chatterbox throughout the event, especially at the beginning as she sat on the lap of her mom, Genevieve.

“The cutest 2-year-old daughter in Major League Baseball, and she’s here and the star of the show,” Rubenstein joked.

As a father of three (Gigi and boys CJ and Norman), Albernaz’s smile was a prideful one in sharing the biggest achievement of his career with his family. His decision to have them be a significant part of the day — and notably the way he handled answering questions while holding his toddler — provided more insight into who Albernaz is as a person than any answer he gave about analytics or clubhouse culture.

“My kids are the greatest gift I can ever, ever have,” Albernaz said looking at Gigi, who responded, “I love you.” “I love you too, Gigi. They keep me grounded. … When you have kids, it changes your whole perspective of life and the game of baseball.”

What does it say about how successful he’ll be as a manager? Perhaps nothing. But the job of a big league manager is to, first and foremost, lead a clubhouse that considers itself a family, and Albernaz presented himself as someone who cares deeply about that responsibility.

Elias and Rubenstein believe this is a home-run hire

The smart, small-market organizations in baseball are like the cool kids’ table in the lunchroom. The Rays, Brewers, Guardians and, Elias and company hope, the Orioles see themselves as like-minded organizations tasked with fielding competitive ballclubs for less than their competitors.

The result of this is the ability to link up on trades since the front offices view players similarly. The Orioles have traded with all three of those teams over the past three seasons. And it also means respect for the most successful people who work in those organizations, and Albernaz falls squarely into that category after spending about 15 years as a player and coach with the Rays and the past two seasons with the Guardians. In Cleveland, he worked alongside Stephen Vogt, regarded as one of MLB’s best managers. Vogt was in attendance Tuesday to support his friend who served as his bench coach in 2024 and associate manager in 2025.

That all makes it unsurprising that the first thing Elias noted about why he hired Albernaz was his background and where he previously worked.

“It starts with Cleveland and the fact that he’s spent the last two seasons very successfully as right-hand man to one of the best managers in the game right now, but also having worked with the Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants and Cleveland, demonstrating the ability to transition successfully across those organizations,” Elias said. “Going from those organizations and all the knowledge and skill that he’s built up through his catching and playing career, but also minor league manager career, major league coaching career. There’s a lot there. We feel that he’s ready to hit the ground running.

“It’s clear that this was a really good fit all around. Like I said, the places he’s worked, the kind of philosophies that he’s developed, his personality and his personal style will be a really good fit for what our group needs, but also in this town and in this market. Just an all-around fit and I was really struck by him once we got done spending the first day with him.”

The interview process included several people within the organization, including Rubenstein, who was struck by Albernaz’s leadership skills. Rubenstein is far from a baseball expert, but as a private equity billionaire and presidential aficionado, his opinion about what makes a good leader shouldn’t be ignored.

“He’s been a leader everywhere he’s ever been,” Rubenstein said. “People always say he’s a take-charge person that’s made every organization he’s been at better because he was there, so we were thrilled when he agreed to accept the offer and we’re looking forward to many, many years with him and us.”

Albernaz might share the Orioles’ philosophies, but he has his own personality

The Orioles’ new manager spoke positively about analytics. He said injuries were a main reason for the Orioles’ struggles in 2025. He said he was a “diverse offense” that utilizes the young core’s athleticism.

That all sounds quite familiar to Brandon Hyde.

The Orioles were always going to hire a manager who understood the same language as the front office. Whether that is the right decision or not won’t be known for years. But Elias believes in synergy between his operation upstairs and the one in the dugout. That’s how it worked under Hyde, and it’s presumably how it will work with Albernaz.

One key question about this hire was how closely aligned it would be with the front office. In on-field decision-making, the assumption should be quite close given Albernaz’s background. But the personality he displayed Tuesday was a contrast from the public-facing image of Elias and those who work in his front office.

Albernaz cracked several jokes, even catching Elias off guard with one of them that led to a potentially awkward exchange that wasn’t because of Albernaz’s laugh. He joked several times about his 5-foot-8 height and he even made a dad-esque “6-7” joke that he said his sons “put me up to it.”

When asked about how he manages a clubhouse and keeps a team loose through a 162-game season, Albernaz said that he knows the only way to do this job is to be himself.

“When I first started coaching in the minor leagues, I remember talking to my wife, Genevieve, like, ‘Now that I’m a coach, do I have to change who I am? Do I have to change the music I listen to?’ And it was just a joke and laughing, but I’m just going to be me. That’s all I know. Players want to know who’s in their corner that’s authentic and real, and they need a sounding board and someone that they can talk to. Tough conversations always happen. It’s a part of the game. I’m not scared to have a tough conversation, I do it all the time. But when it comes from a place of truth and a place of care and love, you have to have those tough conversations.

“Players see through when you’re being fake. So you have to be a truth-teller, you have to be authentic to yourself. And that’s something that I pride myself on since I first started coaching. And that’s never going to change.”

All of which is to say, I wondered if Elias and Co. would be looking for someone who mirrors their vibe instead of complements it with his own. Early returns: they clearly chose the latter. Promising for a talented group that always seemed like it just needed an emotional lift.

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) November 4, 2025

But Albernaz alone can’t fix what ailed the Orioles in 2025. Their problems were too large for one man to solve. And when it comes to a young clubhouse that is still figuring out the big leagues, it’s Albernaz’s job to foster an environment where they can grow. But it’s ultimately up to the players.

“The culture is set by the players,” he said. “Us as a coaching staff, front office, we support the players. At the end of the day, coaches don’t play. Front office members don’t play. The players play. It’s all about the boys, and that is something that will drive that culture, is the players in the clubhouse. … It’s up to me to figure out how each player ticks, get to know them and then allow them to go out and play carefree baseball.”

Rubenstein believes Orioles can win without top payroll

If there is one man whose hands the Orioles’ future sits, it might be Rubenstein, who has the financial ability to fund a hefty payroll after he approved incremental, but substantial, spending increases last offseason.

As he always is, Rubenstein was asked about his appetite for spending and raising the Orioles’ payroll. The Orioles ranked 15th in MLB in payroll last season, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, but about $70 million of that $162 million payroll has come off the books, providing Rubenstein and Elias the opportunity to make legitimate splashes in free agency if they so choose.

“We don’t have particular constraints,” Rubenstein said. “We’re going to try to get the best players we can. Mike is leading that effort and he’s already talked about a number of possibilities with us.”

However, Rubenstein has referenced the depth of his pockets in the past, but his first offseason as owner went without a major move. The Orioles last winter handed out more than $70 million to eight major league free agents, and those moves were mostly one-year contracts that hampered the 2025 club.

Meanwhile, the World Series featured two teams with top-five payrolls, including the big-bad Los Angeles Dodgers, whose ownership group has tried harder to win than others and has been rewarded with back-to-back championships. Rubenstein, who has said several times that MLB needs a salary cap, said that the Orioles can reach their goals without spending to the level of the Dodgers or Yankees or even Blue Jays.

World Series teams have big payrolls. Will Orioles join them? | ANALYSIS

“We have the resources to acquire the players that we need to make the team work,” he said. “Mike has a lot of authority to go out and find the best players that we can get. And of course, it’s not always the case that the highest payroll wins. Clearly, the last couple years that’s probably been the case, but it’s not always the case. So we don’t feel we need to break records by setting payroll records.”

Rubenstein referenced the Orioles’ significant injury woes as a main reason for the disappointing 75-87 season and last-place finish in the American League East. But he referenced the Blue Jays, the World Series runner-ups, as his goal for the 2026 Orioles after Toronto went from the AL East’s cellar in 2024 to a pennant the next year.

“So you can come back from the bottom,” Rubenstein said, “and we expect to do that.”

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A few hours after manager Craig Albernaz’s introductory news conference, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias brought in a reliever for his new skipper. The Orioles on Tuesday afternoon acquired Andrew Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs for cash, reuniting with the veteran right-hander after they traded him away at the deadline a few months ago.

Kittredge has a $9 million club option for 2026 that the Orioles will presumably exercise — or come to an alternate agreement with the 35-year-old. The Orioles traded Kittredge to the Cubs in late July for then-17-year-old infield prospect Wilfri De La Cruz.

After posting a 3.45 ERA in 31 games in Baltimore, Kittredge pitched to a 3.32 ERA with the Cubs as a high-leverage reliever. He allowed three earned runs in five playoff innings for a Cubs team that was eliminated in the National League Division Series.

The Orioles signed Kittredge last winter to a one-year, $10 million deal with a club option for 2026. Over his nine-year career with the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, Orioles and Cubs, Kittredge has a 3.43 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He missed the first two months of the 2025 season with a knee injury, but he got better as the year progressed, striking out 39% of batters with the Cubs.

Effectively, the Orioles received De La Cruz, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Baltimore’s No. 24 prospect, for two months of a reliever they’ll have for the 2026 season. De La Cruz, now 18, is a switch-hitting shortstop who signed out of the Dominican Republic for $2.3 million in January.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound youngster was ranked No. 10 in the 2025 international class by Baseball America. The Orioles have never signed a top-10 international player. In his first season in the Dominican Summer League, De La Cruz hit .258 with an impressive .465 on-base percentage and an .865 OPS.

Kittredge rejoins a bullpen that looks much different than the one he spent most of 2025 with. Gone are Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto and Bryan Baker, all of whom were traded, and Félix Bautista, who will miss most or all of next season recovering from shoulder surgery.

The bullpen remains one of the biggest holes on the Orioles’ roster, but Kittredge’s addition does add a bit more certainty to the picture. MLB free agency begins Thursday, and the Orioles are expected to add multiple pitchers, including potentially a closer to replace Bautista.

Among the pitchers on the Orioles’ 40-man roster, Kittredge and left-hander Keegan Akin are perhaps the only locks to be in the bullpen next year, assuming health. Yennier Cano and Dietrich Enns, who on Monday signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2027, also have inside tracks to bullpen spots, while Kade Strowd and Rico Garcia might be on the bubble. There’s also the potential for converted starters to muddle the picture — a group that includes Tyler Wells, Grayson Rodriguez, Albert Suárez, Cade Povich, Brandon Young and Chayce McDermott.

How that group shakes out will be one of the offseason’s biggest questions. Albernaz was asked about free agency during his news conference, and he rightly said that’s up to Elias.

“Whatever Mike wants to cook up. That’s what Mike does best around the offseason, is cook,” Albernaz said with a smile.

Around the horn

• Shortly before their trade for Kittredge, the Orioles agreed to terms with lefty reliever Josh Walker on a one-year contract for the 2026 season. Walker, who was already on the 40-man roster, was claimed off waivers by Baltimore in August and allowed two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings for Triple-A Norfolk before ending the year on the injured list. The 30-year-old has a career 6.59 ERA in 27 1/3 MLB innings, five of which came with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.

• The Orioles on Monday signed right-hander Jean Henriquez to a minor league contract. Henriquez, 32, has never pitched in the United States. He spent two years with the Rays’ rookie ball club in the DSL in 2014 and 2015 and has pitched internationally since, including impressing in LIDOM, the winter league in the Dominican Republic.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.

As expected, outfielder Tyler O’Neill is opting into the remainder of his contract, a source with direct knowledge of the decision confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Monday.

The Orioles signed the slugger last offseason to a three-year, $49.5 million contract that included an opt-out clause after the 2025 campaign. But after O’Neill hit .199 in 54 games during an injury-filled opening season in Baltimore, he’s opting into the final two years of his contract. O’Neill will be paid $33 million over his final two years with the Orioles.

The Orioles also made decisions on their two players with club options for 2026, coming to an alternate agreement with left-hander Dietrich Enns and reportedly declining utilityman Jorge Mateo’s $5.5 million option.

Rather than exercising Enns’ $3 million option, the Orioles and the left-hander agreed on a one-year contract for next season with a club option for 2027, the team announced Monday evening. The Orioles didn’t release the terms of the contract.

Baltimore acquired Enns in an under-the-radar cash trade at the deadline, and the journeyman southpaw pitched well as a Swiss Army knife reliever over the season’s final two months. The 34-year-old posted a 3.14 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings after the trade with the Detroit Tigers.

Enns, who is out of minor league options, has a solid chance to make the club out of spring training, but that depends on how many pitchers the club adds this offseason. The bullpen is perhaps the biggest hole the club needs to address over the winter.

The move to decline Mateo’s option was expected after the speedster hit .177 and missed significant time with elbow and hamstring injuries in 2025. Francys Romero was first to report Mateo’s option was declined, which the team has yet to announce.

However, the club’s decision doesn’t mean Mateo can’t re-sign with the Orioles at a lower price or as a non-roster invitee to spring training. Since they claimed him off waivers in August 2021, the Orioles have valued Mateo’s speed, defensive skill set and even his ability to hit left-handed pitching. The shortstop-turned-utilityman swiped 35 bases and was worth 3.7 wins above replacement, by Baseball-Reference’s estimation, as a starter in 2022, but he hit .216 with a .610 OPS as a bench player over the past three seasons.

While Mateo could play elsewhere in 2026, O’Neill won’t be, and it’s vital that the Orioles get the righty slugger back on track.

President of baseball operations Mike Elias gave O’Neill a multiyear contract — the first given by the Orioles to a free agent since Elias over in November 2018 — because of his track record as a power hitter, especially against left-handed pitching. With the Boston Red Sox in 2024, O’Neill hit 31 homers on the season and posted an otherworldly 1.179 OPS against lefties. With the Orioles in 2025, he hit only nine homers with a .646 OPS versus southpaws.

During Elias’ end-of-season news conference, he expressed optimism about O’Neill’s future with the Orioles.

“From what I see as an evaluator, the talent is there,” Elias said. “The power, the swing, the way he moves in the outfield, that player is in there. He wasn’t able to express the type of production that he’s done in his best years this year because he wasn’t available that much and that’s been part of his history, and we know that.

“I think he’s a tremendous roster fit for our group when he’s up and running and going good, and he’s a guy that can carry a lineup when he’s doing that. It’s a really high-impact, middle-of-the-order threat when he’s on a roll. Just talked to him extensively. He’s frustrated too and now that we’ve had him for a year, we’re talking with him and trying to plan out ways to do as best as we can to keep him in tip-top form for as much as possible next year, because I do think he can really raise the ceiling of this team, and I’m optimistic about it.”

O’Neill hinted at the end of the season that he would indeed make the obvious decision to opt into the remainder of his contract, which was first reported Monday by The Baltimore Banner.

“Unfortunately, it’s been an unhealthy year for me, so that’s all going to be taken into account,” O’Neill said in late September. “I believe in this group and I really like the guys here. I think we got a good shot for competing deep into the postseason next year. So, it’s a really good feeling to want to show up and be around these guys and play baseball in an environment like Camden Yards is really fun to do on a day-to-day basis.”

O’Neill was placed on the injured list three times during his inaugural campaign in Baltimore to raise his career total to a whopping 17 in eight seasons. He’s had six IL stints over the past two seasons, though his ailments in 2025 were more serious than what he dealt with the year prior. He missed significant time with neck inflammation and shoulder impingement during the first half and then missed a few weeks with a right wrist injury in the second half. He also missed time with an illness, discomfort to his ribcage and something the team described as “general soreness.”

Ranking Orioles’ free agents and option players most likely to return

O’Neill said it was difficult to get into a rhythm at the plate because of how often he was injured, but that hasn’t diminished the 30-year-old’s belief in himself.

“I know the player that I am. I know the way that I can produce on a day-to-day basis,” O’Neill said. “That’s always there. I always have confidence in myself. Even when things aren’t going good and it’s a grind and going 0-for-4 and things suck, just got to keep going.”

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After the 2023 season, the Orioles didn’t bring back Adam Frazier, Jack Flaherty, Kyle Gibson, Aaron Hicks and Shintaro Fujinami. Last offseason, they said goodbye to James McCann, Austin Slater, John Means, Anthony Santander and Corbin Burnes, choosing to replace them with other veterans in free agency.

This winter, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias only has three pending free agents: catcher Gary Sánchez and starting pitchers Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano. But there are three other players with options or opt-out clauses that could result in them becoming free agents. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill has an opt-out before the final two years of the $49.5 million contract he signed last winter, while utility player Jorge Mateo and left-hander Dietrich Enns have team options for $5.5 million and $3 million, respectively.

MLB free agency opens five days after the World Series ends, but in that window, the Orioles can negotiate with their own free agents. That date is the same deadline by which teams and players must exercise or decline options.

Here’s who could return in 2026, ranked from least to most likely:

Catcher Gary Sánchez (free agent)

The Orioles gave Sánchez $8.5 million last offseason to improve their backup catcher spot behind Adley Rutschman, but Sánchez also couldn’t stay healthy, missing time with injuries to his wrist and knee. Sánchez posted a .715 OPS and minus-0.4 wins above replacement by Baseball-Reference’s estimation, and during his absence, backup Alex Jackson played much better (.763 OPS, 0.7 WAR) and prospect Samuel Basallo was promoted. The Orioles are expected to enter 2026 with the trio of Rutschman, Basallo and Jackson behind the plate, giving them no need to bring back Sánchez.

Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (free agent)

Sugano said after his final start of the season that he intended to remain in Major League Baseball in 2026 after he ended his rookie campaign with a 4.64 ERA. The Orioles signed Sugano for $13 million last offseason to be a high-floor option in the back end of their rotation, and the Japanese superstar was their best starter through the first three months of the season. The 36-year-old right-hander will likely command a one-year contract for less than he signed last winter, but that likely won’t be in Baltimore given the Orioles’ track record of opting for new veteran starters in free agency.

Starting pitcher Zach Eflin (free agent)

Entering the year, Eflin was a shoo-in to be worth the qualifying offer — $22.02 million this offseason — but the Orioles likely won’t extend that to him, leaving the right-hander to likely sign a one-year prove-it deal this winter. When healthy, he was superb with the Orioles after they acquired him at the 2024 trade deadline, but persistent back pain derailed his 2025 season (5.93 ERA) that ended with surgery. For the same reason as Sugano, it’s more likely that Eflin is pitching elsewhere in 2026, but Eflin’s track record (when healthy) does make him an intriguing option to return as a mid-rotation option.

Relief pitcher Dietrich Enns ($3 million club option)

The only thing to base this list on is the organization’s track record. Last offseason, perhaps the most head-scratching decision the Orioles made was to decline left-hander Danny Coulombe’s $4 million team option after he posted a 2.56 ERA across 81 relief innings the previous two seasons. Coulombe was again one of the American League’s best lefty relievers this past season, posting a 2.30 ERA with the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers. If Coulombe wasn’t worth $4 million, will the Orioles think Enns — a far less accomplished reliever — is worth $3 million? Enns was solid in Baltimore after he was acquired in a cash deal at the trade deadline, posting a 3.14 ERA in 28 2/3 innings, but he’s entering his age-35 season and the Orioles could determine they have better uses for that $3 million. However, there are massive holes in the bullpen, and Enns proved valuable in a Swiss Army knife-esque role as a platoon-neutral southpaw who can go multiple innings.

Shortstop Jorge Mateo ($5.5 million club option)

The Orioles will almost certainly decline Mateo’s $5.5 million option after a challenging season in which he hit .177 and missed significant time with elbow and hamstring injuries. But that doesn’t mean they won’t keep him in the organization. Whether they give him a major league contract or sign him to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, the Orioles have repeatedly shown they value Mateo. Despite being one of the majors’ worst hitters over the past three seasons, Mateo’s defensive versatility and elite speed are traits the Orioles have consistently shown they covet. Until they show otherwise, it should be assumed the Orioles will continue to find a way to roster Mateo.

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill (opt-out clause)

O’Neill is the only guarantee on this list. He will be back in 2026. In the first year of his contract, O’Neill played only 54 games and posted a .684 OPS. He was signed to mash left-handed pitching, but he nearly had as many stints on the injured list (three) as homers he hit off southpaws (four). By opting in, the 30-year-old will have two more years for $33 million on his contract. Both O’Neill and the Orioles will hope that he can turn his career around.

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President of baseball operations Mike Elias wins because he doesn’t have to look for a manager any longer and he can focus on improving his team this winter. The franchise wins because it’s receiving a positive news cycle in the national media for hiring a respected assistant who was seen as one of the top candidates on the market. Albernaz and his family — wife, Genevieve, and their three young kids — certainly win after earning an amazing opportunity that few baseball families in history have ever received.

But for a divided and frustrated fan base, the hiring of Albernaz is yet another Rorschach test.

For the fans angry about the state of the organization after the disastrous 2025 season, they just see someone with no MLB managerial experience — someone whose trajectory was similar to Brandon Hyde. For the fans more bullish about the ballclub’s future, they see an up-and-coming coach who spent most of his career learning from two of baseball’s smartest organizations in the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians.

Of course, which interpretation is correct — and whether Albernaz will be a winner for the Orioles — is unknowable until the games begin. What he won’t be, however, is a silver bullet.

The Orioles weren’t expected to be in this situation a year ago. Despite back-to-back playoff failures, Brandon Hyde didn’t enter 2025 on the hot seat. An underwhelming offseason, bad injury luck and a downward spiral of poor play led to the 15-28 start that resulted in his ouster. Albernaz’s fate will similarly be determined by others.

His presence alone will not fix what’s ailed Baltimore baseball since the summer of 2024. He can certainly play a part in getting the Orioles back on track, but that job is more up to Elias’ decision-making and owner David Rubenstein’s pockets than it is Albernaz. Perhaps his most important job is infusing life into a young core that struggled with injuries and underperformance in 2025, but that’s more up to Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser and others than it is to their new skipper.

The 2026 Orioles are expected to have luxuries that the 2025 club didn’t. The rotation will have two frontline starting pitchers in Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers when last season’s unit didn’t have any such arms to open the campaign. While most of the young core is coming off a down year, there is optimism surrounding youngsters Jackson Holliday, Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo. And a new manager will bring a breath of fresh air to a clubhouse that was led by Hyde (and one of his assistants) for the previous seven seasons.

What would rejuvenate the club even more entering next year is mostly up to Elias and Rubenstein. Some new coaches to assist Albernaz and provide a fresh outlook to the club’s young core could be helpful after they’ve spent years hearing the same message from mostly the same people for years. And veteran players — both starting pitchers, relievers and perhaps a middle-of-the-order bat — would go a long way in taking pressure off the young core while both raising the team’s floor and ceiling.

Anyone pretending to definitively know whether Albernaz is the right hire is doing just that — pretending. The soon-to-be 43-year-old Massachusetts native with a thick Boston accent has never managed in the major leagues before, and he had only two years as a minor league skipper. He started coaching in the big leagues just six seasons ago, and he will be one of MLB’s youngest managers.

However, he also appears to have a sparkling reputation around the game as someone with a traditional background as a catcher in the Rays system, but also a keen understanding of the new age of baseball. He worked under one of MLB’s best young managers in the Guardians’ Stephen Vogt, who told The Athletic on Monday that Albernaz is one of his “best friends.” He was Patrick Bailey’s catching coach when he was a rookie with the Giants in 2023 when he quickly established himself as one of the top defensive backstops in baseball. And he’s been credited for helping foster a positive clubhouse atmosphere in Cleveland.

In hiring a first-time manager, the range of outcomes is wider than had Elias gone for an experienced skipper like Bob Melvin. That means there’s a chance this simply doesn’t work out and it’s obvious quickly, but there’s also the potential that the Orioles have themselves the next Vogt. There’s no way to know that now.

Only time will tell, and Albernaz will be expected to win immediately.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.

The Orioles on Monday hired Craig Albernaz to be their next manager, the club announced about 15 hours after news first broke that the two sides were finalizing an agreement.

The team hired Albernaz, who served as the Cleveland Guardians’ associate manager for the 2025 season, after a nearly monthlong managerial search following their disappointing 75-87 campaign, bringing in a respected young coach to help turn around the ballclub’s struggling young core.

The hire makes Albernaz one of MLB’s youngest managers at 42 years old. He has no MLB managerial experience and only two seasons as a minor league skipper.

“We are elated to welcome Craig Albernaz as the next manager of the Orioles and our leader on the field,” Mike Elias, the club’s president of baseball operations, said in a news release. “Craig has built an exemplary career across multiple successful organizations and brings a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, and talent to our organization and to this new challenge. We believe he is the right person at the right time to elevate our baseball operations and guide our team back to the playoffs and a World Series Championship.”

Albernaz was seen as one of the more attractive candidates on the market, given his rise up the big league coaching ranks, which began in 2020 with the San Francisco Giants. He joined the Guardians as Stephen Vogt’s bench coach in 2024 and was promoted to associate manager for the 2025 season. Albernaz reportedly withdrew from consideration for the Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox jobs last offseason to remain with Cleveland.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to join the storied Baltimore Orioles organization,” Albernaz said in the team’s news release. “This is a tremendous honor, and I’m grateful to Mike Elias and the entire Orioles team for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this talented club.”

The Orioles will introduce Albernaz during a news conference at Camden Yards on Nov. 4 at 11 a.m.

Elias has chosen to bring in Albernaz, a former minor league catcher and coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, instead of sticking with Tony Mansolino, who served as the club’s interim manager for 119 games after the firing of Brandon Hyde on May 17 following a disastrous 15-28 start to the season. The hire of Albernaz is Elias’ second managerial hire in charge of Baltimore’s front office after he brought in Hyde in December 2018.

Elias said during his end-of-season news conference that he wanted to hire a manager “ASAP” with the large number of managerial jobs open. Experience was something Elias said would be a factor in his decision-making.

“I think experience is usually, overwhelmingly usually, a big positive,” he said. “I think it will definitely carry a lot of weight given all the factors. But if you look at history, it is not a requisite for managerial success and it’s not necessary and nor does it guarantee success. It’ll all be weighed in the portfolio of the candidate and there are other perceived strengths and areas of lacking. We’ll just look at the whole picture and the person and try to decide who’s best for us.”

Albernaz, a Somerset, Massachusetts, native, played in college at Division II Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Rays and spent eight years slowly climbing up their minor league ladder, topping out at Triple-A and never making it to the major leagues. The backstop ended his minor league career with a .199 batting average after one season in the Detroit Tigers’ farm system before rejoining the Rays as minor league coach.

He managed the Rays’ Low-A affiliate in 2017 and then their High-A team the next year, earning the Midwest League Manager of the Year Award in 2018. Albernaz was then the organization’s minor league field coordinator in 2019 before joining the Giants as their bullpen and catching coach.

Albernaz, who turns 43 on Thursday, worked under two managers during his time in the big leagues — the past two with Vogt and the previous four with the Giants’ Gabe Kapler. Vogt is one of only three current managers younger than Albernaz, a list that also includes the St. Louis Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol and new Los Angeles Angels skipper Kurt Suzuki. Albernaz and his wife, Genevieve, live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with their children CJ, 8, Norman, 6, and Gigi, 2.

The hire of an outside candidate could mean significant changes to the Orioles’ coaching staff. How many changes are made to the hitting and pitching staffs remains to be seen, as is Mansolino’s status in the organization. The former third base and infield coach said he would be open to other roles in the organization if they’re offered to him. Elias spoke highly of Mansolino, under whom the Orioles went 60-59.

“We think he did a terrific job as the interim manager with that particular assignment in 2025 with where the players were, with where the organization was,” Elias said. “I thought he added a lot of value and did a great job with that assignment and I got the chance to work with him much more closely during this and I’m very impressed with him as I’ve gotten to know him more, and I think he’s a very talented guy and has a lot of skills that would add up to a great major league manager now or in the future.”

Albernaz will have his work cut out for him with the Orioles. A young core that was once seen as baseball’s best experienced a concerning decline in 2025, most notably from catcher Adley Rutschman, who has struggled since the second half of 2024. The Orioles started the season 15-28 because of injuries and underperformance from the young core, as well as an inept starting rotation. The club played better in the summer and even treaded water in the second half after the front office’s trade deadline fire sale, but the 2026 roster has plenty of holes to fill this offseason, namely in the starting rotation and bullpen.

With about a week until free agency begins, now it’s up to Elias and his front office to address those needs in hopes of a bounce-back season in 2026 — with Albernaz at the helm.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.