The Baltimore Orioles made a front-office shakeup on Monday, bringing in assistant general manager of the Chicago Cubs, Jared Banner, to become the new general manager alongside President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias. Banner, who served as the Cubs’ assistant GM from 2024 to 2026, joined after Elias expressed a desire to add “fresh voices” to the front office.
Banner’s arrival could mark the start of a transitionary period between who controls the club and where the team is slated to go after a disappointing 2026 season. Regardless, it signals that the Orioles want to move away from a single-voice approach to roster building toward a more democratic, tiered approach.
Who Is Jared Banner?
Jared Banner isn’t a well-known figure outside front office circles in Major League Baseball, but he’s certainly not an unknown suit.
Banner started his journey in 2007 after his baseball playing career ended, starting as a Boston Red Sox intern after a successful internship. He then became a scout under head scout Ray Fagnant, helping comb the team for prospects in the 2011 draft. That draft brought in notable names, including pitcher Matt Barnes, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., and a high school prospect named Mookie Betts.
Jared Banner has been named our next General Manager.
Welcome to Birdland, Jared! https://t.co/eMxXVzfnoH
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 19, 2026
Then-executive Vice President Theo Epstein praised Banner’s work with Fagnant in the Northeast and his noted work ethic, which led to several roles focused on player development and farm system work. That work also led Banner to a stint with the New York Mets as their farm director, along with his mentor, Allard Baird. Between 2019 and 2024, Banner oversaw the development of Pete Alonso, Andres Gimenez, Francisco Alvarez, and other notable Mets prospects.
His most notable stint came between 2021 and 2024, when he became Vice President of player development for the Cubs. He was instrumental in overseeing Pete Crow-Armstrong’s development after the 2021 trade that sent Javier Baez to the Mets. The Cubs also saw success in their farm system with Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, and Michael Busch. He left the position for the assistant GM slot, building the Cubs’ farm system to number two before the 2024 season.
Jared Banner’s Direction Is Clear
Banner comes to the Orioles at a time when they are struggling to see progress in their pitching development, but have rebuilt their farm system with top-of-the-line rotation prospects. In fact, ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted on Monday that Banner’s resume in player development ultimately led Baltimore to secure him for the spot. That move also reunites him with Alonso from the Mets.
News: The Baltimore Orioles are hiring Jared Banner as general manager, sources tell ESPN. Banner, who was an assistant GM with the Cubs, joins Mike Elias in Baltimore’s leadership after nearly two decades working a range of executive jobs with the Cubs, Mets and Red Sox.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 19, 2026
The Orioles have one of the youngest rosters in MLB, with plenty of young talent in Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Samuel Basallo, and Colton Cowser. Behind the current roster is a deep prospect pool that includes three strong rotation pieces (Anthony Eyanson, Joseph Dzierwa, and Caden Hunter) and three potential outfielders (Eric Booth Jr., Ike Irish, and Enddy Azocar).
It comes as the Orioles deal with numerous holes in their roster, especially in the outfield and rotation. Taylor Ward was traded midseason, Tyler O’Neill hasn’t lived up to his potential, and the Orioles have no dependable fourth outfielder. In the rotation, Shane Baz needs help as impending free agent Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish regressed in 2026. The bullpen isn’t faring any better either, with the closer-by-committee approach failing to lock down games.
With Banner coming on and getting a larger say in player development and structure, that bodes well for the top prospects. Three of them are projected to make their debut in 2027, while two could get the call the next year. If their player development works too well, it does open up an interesting predicament.
Could Banner Make Trades to Win Now?
Given the Orioles’ deep prospect pool, teams could call and offer big names to rebuild their own farms. If the Orioles have a strong farm system that improves in 2027, could Banner buck the trend and sell prospects to win now?
It’s unclear what the trade market will look like, given the uncertainty around the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. Still, if pitchers like Logan Gilbert from the Seattle Mariners or Edward Cabrera from the Cubs come on the market, they might make a move. It depends on how fast a deal is done and how weak the free-agent market is, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
The Last Word
Banner’s hire marks a shift in the organization’s tone and approach going forward. The team wants to prioritize player development and hashing out the pieces they already have on the major league roster. Whether they feel like trading pieces they don’t really need or trading for franchise faces remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Mike Elias’s days as the franchise’s sole dictator are over.
More Orioles News:
Félix Bautista’s Return Sets Comeback Tone for Next Season
Meet the O’s Prospects Set to Play in the Arizona Fall League
Which Orioles Prospects Deserve to Make Next Year’s Roster?
Main Photo Credit: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images