Orioles GM Elias Touts Bullpen Despite Poor Recent Performance

Elias' assessment of the Orioles' bullpen as "very good" is at odds with the unit's struggles over the past two seasons.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias recently told the media that the team's bullpen is "very good" and that the organization has demonstrated an ability to "improve players." However, this assessment appears to be divorced from reality, as the Orioles' bullpen has been among the worst in baseball over the past two seasons. The article argues that Elias' confidence in the bullpen is misplaced, with the unit lacking experienced, high-leverage arms beyond a few key players.

Why it matters

The Orioles' bullpen performance is a critical factor in the team's chances of competing for a playoff spot in 2026. Elias' overly optimistic assessment of the bullpen raises questions about the organization's ability to accurately evaluate its own roster and make necessary improvements.

The details

The article highlights several issues with the Orioles' bullpen, including the struggles of projected 7th inning man Keegan Akin, the uncertainty surrounding Yennier Cano, and the lack of experienced, reliable arms beyond the top few relievers. It also notes that the Orioles' bullpen has been among the worst in baseball over the past two seasons, ranking 23rd and 25th in bullpen ERA in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

  • In 2022 and 2023, the Orioles' bullpen massively overachieved, ranking 9th and 5th in bullpen ERA.
  • Since 2023, the Orioles have not been able to turn random waiver claims into quality relievers as they did before.

The players

Mike Elias

The general manager of the Baltimore Orioles who recently expressed confidence in the team's bullpen despite its poor recent performance.

Ryan Helsley

A relief pitcher the Orioles added to their bullpen, though he struggled in the second half of the 2025 season.

Andrew Kittredge

Another relief pitcher the Orioles added to their bullpen.

Keegan Akin

The Orioles' projected 7th inning man, who has struggled to pitch in high-leverage situations.

Yennier Cano

A relief pitcher who was incredible in 2023 but struggled in 2025, and may not make the team's roster if he struggles in spring training.

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What they’re saying

“I think that we've got a very strong bullpen, and I think we have demonstrated the ability with our pitching program and our pitching coaches to bring in guys from the outside and hopefully coach them up a little bit and continue to improve players, so I think the bullpen is going to be very good.”

— Mike Elias, General Manager, Baltimore Orioles

The takeaway

Elias' overly optimistic assessment of the Orioles' bullpen raises concerns about the organization's ability to accurately evaluate its roster and make necessary improvements. The bullpen's recent struggles suggest the team may need to be more proactive in addressing this critical area of the team if they hope to compete for a playoff spot in 2026.