{"id":107873,"date":"2025-09-29T23:04:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T03:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=107873"},"modified":"2025-09-29T23:04:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T03:04:52","slug":"orioles-search-new-manager-who-fits-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/09\/29\/orioles-search-new-manager-who-fits-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Orioles Search for New Manager, Need to Find the Right Fit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Baltimore Orioles are looking to start fresh for the 2026 MLB season, starting with the search for a new manager. Despite the poor performance of the team, general manager Mike Elias praised interim manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/mansoto99.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tony Mansolino<\/a> for doing a &#8220;terrific job.&#8221; The temporary skipper took over for former manager of the year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/hydebr99.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Hyde<\/a> in May and went 60-59.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_100526\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-100526\" style=\"width: 758px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100526\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26006857_168400885_lowres-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde on Saturday after a shockingly poor start to the season.\" width=\"758\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26006857_168400885_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26006857_168400885_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26006857_168400885_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26006857_168400885_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26006857_168400885_lowres-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26006857_168400885_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26006857_168400885_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-100526\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Apr 24, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde stands in the dugout prior to the start of the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Several managers found themselves or are expected to be out of a job within the coming days as the MLB postseason gets underway. It will be a challenge for the team to find the right manager and lead a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/09\/25\/orioles-rookies-report-kids-will-be-alright\/\" target=\"_self\">young<\/a>, inexperienced team to the playoffs. There are numerous options the team could look to in their search to bring leadership and purpose to the clubhouse.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Mike Elias said the Orioles will have a search for the club\u2019s vacant manager job to see who the \u201cright fit\u201d is.<\/p>\n<p>Tony Mansolino will be part of that process, and Elias spoke highly of him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe think he did a terrific job as interim manager.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jcalvinmeyer\/status\/1972702214209892720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Orioles Begin Search for New Manager<\/h2>\n<h3>Tony Mansolino, The Safe Candidate<\/h3>\n<p>Most teams look inward when searching for a new skipper; the case isn&#8217;t different with Baltimore. The team can easily settle for what they have and avoid a long and arduous process of interviewing, comparing, and overall drama by going with Mansolino.<\/p>\n<p>During his end-of-the-year press conference, the 43-year-old interim skipper already laid out his case to stay.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At no point, even the day that Mike kind of handed the reins to me, at no point did I feel overwhelmed,&#8221; Mansalino said per <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/46422931\/orioles-tony-mansolino-compete-permanent-manager-role\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ESPN<\/a>. He added that he felt he &#8220;passed with flying colors in a lot of ways.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&#8220;I do feel strongly that I passed with flying colors in a lot of ways&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Tony Mansolino believes he&#8217;s shown he&#8217;s ready to be a big league manager <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rdTq8Xha4u\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/rdTq8Xha4u<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Baltimore Banner Sports (@AllBannerSports) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AllBannerSports\/status\/1972740030012502337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It should be noted that Mansolino finished with a roster that had a lineup placing sixth-worst in batting average, and under a .700 OPS. On the pitching side, the team&#8217;s rotation ranked as one of the worst behind the Colorado Rockies and Athletics.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s not Mansolino&#8217;s fault, however, as injuries knocked out some of their best rotation options. The team&#8217;s lineup also lacked power players outside of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hendegu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gunnar Henderson<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/o\/ohearry01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan O&#8217;Hearn<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/laurera01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ramon Laureano<\/a> found themselves with the San Diego Padres at the deadline despite good seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Mansolino is already familiar with the Orioles, having been their third-base coach between 2021 and May 2025. If the players want familiarity as a manager, he might be the route to go.<\/p>\n<h3>Bob Melvin, The New Old-School Option<\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes, a team might want to bring in a guy capable of causing a culture shock in the clubhouse. Maybe the team needs a &#8220;winner&#8221; presence to spark the team. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/melvibo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bob Melvin<\/a> fits both categories if the team seeks to shake things up altogether.<\/p>\n<p>The 63-year-old manager got canned by the San Francisco Giants after finishing with almost two straight .500 seasons. But don&#8217;t let it fool anyone, since he had a decade-long string of successes with Oakland. He&#8217;s also a three-time Manager of the Year, twice with Oakland, once with the Arizona Diamondbacks.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The Giants have fired manager Bob Melvin, the team announced. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8m2PJu7v5f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/8m2PJu7v5f<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLBONFOX\/status\/1972702387539472420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Despite being a coach since the 1990s, before analytics, he&#8217;s embraced a new sabermetric focus on the sport. Melvin has also been painted as a player&#8217;s manager, something they love about him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you get set in your ways, then you\u2019re going to lose your players,\u201d Melvin told <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/2611001\/2021\/05\/26\/i-truly-love-bob-melvin-how-the-as-skippers-unique-mix-of-honesty-calm-and-quirky-phobias-made-him-a-cornerstone-in-oakland\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Athletic<\/a> in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that he was able to take a shoestring budget Athletics team to the playoffs repeatedly suggests he can do the same with the Orioles. A great manager can lead any type of team to a postseason trip. Giving him a few rotation pieces works wonders if he&#8217;s selected to lead.<\/p>\n<h3>Joe Espada, The Unlikely Option<\/h3>\n<p>There&#8217;s always the curveball element to any team, and the process of hiring managers isn&#8217;t exempt from that list. The Orioles could shock everyone and pick someone that few, if any, experts would think. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/managers\/espadjo99.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joe Espada<\/a> falls in the top of that category.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Astros general manager Dana Brown said Joe Espada is under contract for 2026 but the manager will be reviewed as with all operations after the team missed the playoffs. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EJcuZVvB7b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/EJcuZVvB7b<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Oft2EIxNFL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Oft2EIxNFL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HoustonChron\/status\/1972395901021757669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 28, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The 50-year-old holds 15 years of coaching experience, so there&#8217;s a wealth of experience there. He&#8217;s also been through the best of the Astros&#8217; lineups and the worst of their teams. Never mind the trash can scandal in 2019-2020, with the right corps of players, his teams can be unstoppable.<\/p>\n<p>The Astros&#8217; collapse in 2025 looms large over his head, however, given that they had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=brownhu01,brown-008hun,brown-006hun,brown-010hun,brown-009hun&amp;search=Hunter+Brown&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hunter Brown<\/a> in the rotation and brought back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/correca01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Carlos Correa<\/a>. They managed to make the playoffs in 2024 with a decent 1-2-3 rotation and a healthy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/a\/alvaryo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-09-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yordan Alvarez<\/a>, but lost to the Detroit Tigers in two games in the Wild Card Series.<\/p>\n<p>If the Orioles want a manager who has postseason success, Espada might be best reserved for the bench. Then again, it&#8217;s hard to gloss over someone with 15 years of coaching experience.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: \u00a9 Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Baltimore Orioles are looking to start fresh for the 2026 MLB season, starting with the search for a new manager. Despite the poor performance of the team, general manager Mike Elias praised interim manager Tony Mansolino for doing a &#8220;terrific job.&#8221; The temporary skipper took over for former manager of the year Brandon Hyde [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5304,"featured_media":107890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1071,35],"tags":[2223,1731,29016],"class_list":["post-107873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-orioles","category-mlb","category-news","tag-bob-melvin","tag-joe-espada","tag-tony-mansolino"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5304"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107873"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107891,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107873\/revisions\/107891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}