Orioles Hire New GM Jared Banner, Latest MLB Rumors on Contract and What to Know About Ex-Cubs Exec

The Baltimore Orioles are hiring Jared Banner as their next general manager, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Patrick Mooney and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported earlier this month that Banner, who was an assistant GM for the Chicago Cubs, was a candidate for the Athletics in their search to replace David Forst.

Mooney and Rosenthal noted he "has extensive experience in scouting, player development and administration, including time with the Cubs, Red Sox and New York Mets." Among his successes in Chicago was identifying Pete Crow-Armstrong as a prospective trade target.

Orioles fans will welcome the arrival of a new voice to the front office after the organization has badly stagnated.

Baltimore fell hard and fell fast after winning 101 games and claiming an American League East title in 2023. What had been one of MLB's most promising young cores yielded zero playoff wins, and a new cycle might already be underway after back-to-back losing seasons.

The obvious question is how much Banner will be able to influence roster-building moving forward when Mike Elias remains in place as the president of baseball operations.

As much credit as Elias deserves for turning the Orioles into a contender with a load of homegrown talent, he's equally culpable for how little they achieved during their competitive window.

There's also the presence of team owner David Rubenstein, whose honeymoon period after purchasing the team from the Angelos family didn't last long.

The lack of investment in the pitching staff after Corbin Burnes left as a free agent 2025 was a source of frustration among fans. The Orioles' recent layoffs, which included the employees who worked as the team mascots, didn't send a great message, either.

A general manager with Banner's reputation makes a lot of sense with where Baltimore is. Talent scouting and player development will be critical for shaping the next few years.

However, the fanbase may be guardedly optimistic about Banner's arrival being change for the better.