In the high-stakes game of baseball management, Orioles GM Mike Elias has certainly showcased both brilliance and blunders. His role in lifting the Orioles from the doldrums has been remarkable, considering the financial straitjacket he’s worn for much of his tenure. However, heightened expectations bring tougher scrutiny and Elias’s record is no exception.
Elias’s decision-making, such as dealing away Tanner Scott and releasing Evan Phillips, has come under fire. Moreover, his choice to draft Adley Rutschman over Bobby Witt Jr., which I’ve previously debated, stands as another controversial move. Although Jack Flaherty didn’t end up in Baltimore in 2023, thankfully, the trade isn’t biting back too harshly.
As the deadline approached this year, Elias’s strategy was critically important. One acquisition that seems to bring more positives was trading Austin Hays for Seranthony Domínguez, strengthening a bullpen wavering especially after Craig Kimbrel’s decline. Despite not solving all the Orioles’ bullpen issues, Domínguez stabilizes it, earning the trade a solid “B” grade.
Then there’s the trade for Zach Eflin from the Rays, a deal that’s looking like a masterstroke by Elias. Eflin has been exceptional, posting a 1.95 ERA across 32.1 innings, and enhancing the starting rotation’s depth. Given the heavy cost paid, including Jackson Baumeister and others, the current outcome still justifies an “A+” grade.
A more debatable move was acquiring Gregory Soto from Philadelphia. Critics initially blasted the trade after Soto’s rocky start.
However, adjustments to Soto’s delivery seem to have turned his fortunes around, not allowing runs and only one hit in his recent 8.1 innings span. His reliability in late-game situations is increasingly evident, earning this trade a solid “B+”.
Lastly, the trade of Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby for Trevor Rogers was ambitious, with Elias aiming to bolster the rotation further after acquiring Eflin. However, Rogers has struggled significantly in Baltimore, necessitating a demotion to Triple-A to rediscover his form. This deal currently deserves a “D-” with much left for Rogers to prove in the coming seasons.
As we assess these trades, it’s clear that some of Elias’s maneuvers are shaping up better than others. Time will reveal the full impact of his decisions, but for now, the grades vary from promising to problematic, reflecting the unforgiving complexity of baseball management.
