Baltimore Orioles Name Jared Banner General Manager, Bringing Experienced Executive to Front Office
By Brian Hradsky
October 19, 2026
The Baltimore Orioles announced Monday that Jared Banner has been named the organization’s new general manager, adding an experienced baseball executive to a front office preparing for a critical offseason. Banner joins Baltimore after serving as assistant general manager of the Chicago Cubs, bringing 18 years of experience in player development, scouting and baseball operations. He will work alongside president of baseball operations Mike Elias, who will continue overseeing the organization’s baseball decisions. The hiring represents one of the Orioles’ most significant front-office changes as the franchise attempts to rebound from consecutive disappointing seasons.
Banner will oversee several important areas of Baltimore’s baseball operations, including player development, coaching and performance. He will also work closely with Elias on organizational strategy, staffing and talent acquisition. The Orioles believe his extensive background in developing young players will help strengthen an organization that has struggled to translate its talented farm system into sustained major league success. His arrival gives Baltimore another experienced decision-maker as the club prepares for the 2027 season.
Banner Brings Extensive Major League Experience
Banner most recently served as assistant general manager of the Chicago Cubs, a position he held beginning in January 2024. He joined Chicago’s organization in December 2020 as vice president of special projects before becoming vice president of player development from 2022 through 2023. During his tenure, Banner helped oversee the Cubs’ minor league development system and contributed to the organization’s efforts to build sustainable major league talent. His experience working with multiple departments made him an attractive candidate for Baltimore’s front-office opening.
Before joining Chicago, Banner worked for the New York Mets from 2018 through 2020 as executive director of player development. In that role, he oversaw the organization’s minor league system beginning in December 2018. His responsibilities included coordinating development programs, evaluating prospects and helping prepare young players for the major leagues. That experience should prove valuable for an Orioles organization looking to maximize the potential of its young talent.
Banner began his professional baseball career with the Boston Red Sox in 2007, joining the organization as a fellow in its baseball operations department. He moved into amateur scouting in 2008 and earned a promotion to assistant amateur scouting director in 2009. Boston promoted Banner to coordinator of amateur scouting in 2010 before naming him assistant director of player personnel in 2013. He eventually served as vice president of player personnel from 2017 through 2018, contributing to an organization that won three World Series championships during his tenure in 2007, 2013 and 2018.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Banner attended Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he played four years of varsity baseball as an outfielder. He served as team captain in 2007 before beginning his professional baseball career. His combination of playing experience, scouting knowledge and executive leadership has helped establish his reputation throughout Major League Baseball. Baltimore will now rely on that experience to help rebuild confidence in its baseball operations department.
Orioles Leadership Welcomes Banner
Elias praised Banner’s experience and leadership in the organization’s official announcement, emphasizing his ability to improve multiple areas of baseball operations. The Orioles president of baseball operations believes Banner can help strengthen the organization’s internal structure while providing another experienced perspective on player development. Elias also expressed excitement about working with Banner as Baltimore prepares for the future. The organization views the hiring as an important step toward building a more competitive franchise.
“Jared has been one of the rising talents in our league for some time, now. He has demonstrated success running multiple different departments and has worked alongside some of the best people and front office talent in the league across multiple stops.”
Banner also expressed excitement about joining Baltimore and helping the Orioles return to championship contention. He praised the franchise’s history, passionate fan base and talented organization while acknowledging the work already completed under Elias. Banner believes the foundation exists for Baltimore to build a successful future. His focus will now turn toward helping the Orioles develop that potential into consistent results.
“When I first heard Mike’s vision, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. The Orioles are a storied franchise with a passionate fanbase, a historic ballpark, and an organization full of talent.”
Banner also thanked Orioles ownership and Elias for the opportunity to join the organization. His comments emphasized a desire to build upon Baltimore’s existing foundation rather than completely overhaul its baseball operations. That approach could allow the Orioles to preserve successful elements of their development system while addressing areas that have fallen short of expectations. The challenge will be turning those organizational improvements into victories at the major league level.
Baltimore Looking to Improve Player Development
The Orioles entered the offseason searching for ways to strengthen their baseball operations department following another disappointing season. Baltimore finished 2026 with a 79-82 record, placing fourth in the American League East and missing the postseason for the second consecutive year. The results were especially frustrating for an organization that previously assembled one of baseball’s most highly regarded collections of young talent. Despite that foundation, the Orioles have struggled to maintain the success that made them a contender earlier in the decade.
Player development has become a major area of concern for Baltimore, making Banner’s background particularly important. The organization has invested heavily in scouting, analytics and its minor league system, but developing consistent major league contributors remains essential. Banner’s experience with Boston, New York and Chicago gives him knowledge of several different organizational approaches. Baltimore hopes those perspectives will help its prospects make successful transitions to the major leagues.
Banner also brings experience identifying young talent that could become valuable long-term contributors. During his time with the Cubs, he reportedly advocated for the acquisition of outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, whom Chicago obtained from the Mets in 2021. Crow-Armstrong subsequently developed into one of the Cubs’ most important players, providing an example of Banner’s talent evaluation background. Although no executive can receive sole credit for a player’s development, Banner’s involvement demonstrates the experience he brings to Baltimore.
The Orioles have already begun making significant changes throughout their baseball operations department. Matt Blood departed the organization in September after overseeing important aspects of Baltimore’s player development system. Assistant general manager Sig Mejdal has also shifted away from daily oversight of the analytics department to focus on technology and research. Banner’s arrival provides another indication that the Orioles are serious about restructuring their front office following two unsuccessful seasons.
What Banner’s Hiring Means for Mike Elias
Although Banner will carry the general manager title, Elias will remain president of baseball operations and retain ultimate authority over the Orioles’ baseball decisions. The arrangement allows Elias to concentrate on broader organizational strategy while delegating significant responsibilities to Banner. Both executives will work together on player development, staffing and acquisitions as Baltimore attempts to improve its roster. The structure also creates an opportunity for greater collaboration within the front office.
Elias previously indicated that Baltimore needed additional experienced voices within its baseball operations department. He acknowledged that the Orioles operated with one of the smallest front offices in Major League Baseball and expressed interest in expanding the organization’s leadership. Hiring Banner addresses that concern while adding an executive with extensive experience in player development. The move also demonstrates a willingness to bring outside perspectives into an organization that has relied heavily on its existing leadership group.
The relationship between Elias and Banner will be important as the Orioles navigate the upcoming offseason. Baltimore must evaluate its current roster, identify weaknesses and determine how to develop a more competitive team in the American League East. Decisions involving player acquisitions, organizational depth and the minor league system could significantly influence the franchise’s direction. Banner will have an opportunity to contribute immediately as those discussions begin.
Orioles Schedule October 27 Introduction
The Orioles announced that Banner will be formally introduced during a press conference at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday, October 27. The event will provide an opportunity for Banner to discuss his vision for Baltimore and explain how he plans to approach his new responsibilities. Elias and the organization’s leadership will also have an opportunity to address questions surrounding the front-office restructuring. Additional details regarding the press conference are expected to be released by the club.
Banner enters Baltimore at an important moment for the franchise. The Orioles have a passionate fan base, a talented collection of players and an organization determined to return to contention. However, the team’s recent struggles have demonstrated that developing prospects and building a competitive major league roster require constant improvement. Banner’s hiring represents another attempt to address those challenges before the 2027 season.
MSB Take
The Orioles made an important move by bringing Jared Banner into the organization, and his extensive player development background makes him an intriguing addition. Baltimore has spent years building its farm system, but the organization needs more consistent production from its young players at the major league level. Banner’s experience with the Red Sox, Mets and Cubs should provide valuable insight into improving that process. His hiring also shows that Elias recognizes the need for additional leadership following two disappointing seasons.
The biggest question is how much influence Banner will have on the organization’s direction with Elias remaining in charge of baseball operations. Adding another experienced executive should improve decision-making, but the Orioles ultimately need results on the field rather than simply more front-office personnel. Banner will face immediate pressure to help Baltimore strengthen its development system and return to postseason contention. This is a promising hire on paper, but the true measure of success will be whether the Orioles can turn their talented roster into a consistent winner.
