HERE ARE 3 GMS THAT THE ORIOLES COULD HIRE IF THEY DECIDE TO FIRE MIKE ELIAS
The Baltimore Orioles secretly promoted Mike Elias to President of Baseball Operations but have left the General Manager position vacant for over a year, likely because candidates view the spiraling team and Elias's shaky job security as a "sinking ship." If the team's downward trend continues, Baltimore may need to skip hiring a number two executive and focus entirely on replacing Elias with a new leader.
The Three Potential Candidates
Preston Mattingly (Philadelphia Phillies GM) The Appeal: He represents the exact opposite of Elias's conservative approach.
The Strength: Having worked under aggressive executives like AJ Preller and Dave Dombrowski, Mattingly is eager to make trades, sign big contracts, and avoid "prospect hugging"—targeting Elias's biggest weaknesses in contract negotiations and pitching development.
The Catch: The Phillies may be grooming him to take over for Dombrowski, and he currently works alongside his father in Philadelphia, making him hard to pry away.
Carter Hawkins (Chicago Cubs GM / Number Two) The Appeal: He spent years learning the ropes within Cleveland’s organization, which is famous for elite pitching development.
The Strength: Hawkins could finally bring a proven, forward-thinking pitching development strategy to fix Baltimore's most glaring weakness. Additionally, his time with the Cubs showcases a well-rounded approach of drafting well, extending stars, trading prospects when needed, and leveraging free agency.
Jeff Kingston (Los Angeles Dodgers Assistant GM) The Appeal: He has spent seven years inside the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, Major League Baseball's premier franchise.
The Strength: While hiring him won’t instantly turn Baltimore into Los Angeles, Kingston has mastered the league's best developmental processes. He would quickly identify exactly where the Orioles' current internal systems are falling short.
https://birdswatcher.com/3-gms-the-orioles-could-try-to-poach-if-they-decide-to-fire-mike-elias
ARTICLE POSTED ON MAY 21, 2026 AT 4:10 PM ET