Mike Elias anticipates returning at helm of Orioles and Craig Albernaz will remain for 2027

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President of baseball operations Mike Elias said his working assumption is that he will remain atop the Orioles organization, and Elias said Saturday that manager Craig Albernaz will remain in his role for next season.

The Orioles have underperformed this season, sitting in last place in the American League East with a 75-79 record. Unless Baltimore makes a stunning run over the last eight games — and receives help elsewhere — the club will miss the postseason for a second straight season.

While the Orioles have already made two changes to their front office and more may come, Elias is operating as the architect.

“Our front office in general, we’re in a position we want to add from the outside this offseason,” Elias said. “We’ve got one of the very smallest baseball operations in the league, and I think we’re at a stage where we’d benefit greatly from outside voices in a number of areas.”

Elias said “my assumption” is that he retains his position through the offseason and next year.

“It’s a big responsibility kind of stewarding this franchise, and I remain focused on that every day, and what is the best decision for the organization and franchise,” Elias said.

Elias, who began as general manager under Angelos family ownership ahead of the 2019 season, oversaw a long-term plan to bring Baltimore to relevance. Since the ownership group led by David Rubenstein assumed control, Rubenstein has expressed public support for Elias.

Still, the Orioles haven’t built on the success of 2023 and 2024. They have gone backward.

That, in part, has led to the current changes to the front office. Sig Mejdal is moving from oversight of the analytics department to oversee emerging technologies and innovative practices. Elias said that was already part of Mejdal’s position, but now it will be Mejdal’s full responsibility.

For the time being, the Orioles are leaning on their current stable of staffers in the analytics department to handle those duties. Elias said the Orioles could add to that department, just as they could flesh out the front office at large.

“We want to hear outside perspectives,” Elias said. “There’re a lot of teams having a lot of success, and we want to learn from those people. In terms of hiring, I think we’ve got a very attractive situation right now. We’ve got a team and a farm system with talent. We’ve got owners who are well equipped and looking to grow, and whoever comes in and joins us is going to have their support in a big way.”

Albernaz, meanwhile, will remain in charge for at least another year despite challenges in his first year.

“We’re continuing to build around Craig,” Elias said. “There are a lot of positives to what he brings to the table. I look at where we are, our record, and how we feel we’ve disappointed ourselves this season. I think it means all of us have room to get better and improve, so we’re kind of focused on that.”

This article will be updated.