Question: Your thoughts on going all in to win in a given year or two, knowing a couple rebuild seasons would follow a win-now, all-or-nothing approach. It seems Elias is building a mid-level contender. Not too hot, not too cold. From: Jim Anderson
Answer: Jim, I have been flooded with questions about Mike Elias and his performance, mostly critical ones, and I think you’re trying to oversimplify the approach.
Most general managers of contenders realize they have several years when they have a group of players together, and I think Elias is trying to extend that period by his trades of last week.
If you spend a large amount of money on a single year, and it doesn’t work, you’re inevitably setting up for another total rebuild, which I think the Orioles would like to avoid.
It’s hard to win in the postseason. Look at the Yankees, who spend heavily and have had great regular season records, and only one World Series appearance in the last 15 years.
I think Elias realizes that it’s hard, but having a good team over several years increases the odds of getting to a League Championship Series or a World Series.
Question: Astute people are saying that Elias unloaded good players under team control for a year or two to protect his job past 2026 and that he’ll make noise in the offseason, but we’re doomed to another lost season unless he pulls an inside straight with the health and performance of our injured pitchers, a top-of-the line starter and replacements/upgrades in the bullpen and a return to pre-injury from by Félix Bautista. What do you say? From: Ronald G. Rayne
Answer: Ronald, I don’t know who those “astute people,” you’re referring to are, but I think the Orioles need a big season in 2026. If Elias was simply trying to protect his job for next season, then I think he would have handled the trade deadline much differently.
The Orioles can use some of the players he acquired in the offseason to attempt to trade for pitching or if they’re in the hunt in July 2026, they can try to make deals with them then. They also needed to beef up the farm system because they’ve traded so many players they’ve drafted and look to have had an productive draft in 2024.
Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.