Andy Kostka
banner
afkostka.bsky.social
Andy Kostka
@afkostka.bsky.social
Orioles beat reporter for the Baltimore Banner
Reposted by Andy Kostka
The day after the 6th straight loss for Terps football, Maryland AD Jim Smith tamps down speculation on coach Mike Locksley announcing he'll return for 2026 ... with more financial backing than before: www.thebanner.com/sports/colle...
November 16, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Reposted by Andy Kostka
World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto says #adoptdontshop 🥹
November 16, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Orioles add Joe Singley, Miguel Cairo to Craig Albernaz’s coaching staff

www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...
Orioles add Joe Singley and Miguel Cairo to coaching staff
These latest hirings join a flurry of additions around first-time manager Craig Albernaz.
www.thebanner.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
And as @rochkubatko.bsky.social reports first, source confirms Miguel Cairo joining Orioles as infield coach.

Cairo was the Nationals’ interim manager this year
The Orioles are expected to hire Joe Singley to their coaching staff, two sources said. Singley, joining from the Marlins, is set to be Baltimore’s field coordinator and major league catching coach.

Singley was the Marlins’ catching coach last year.
November 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The Orioles are expected to hire Joe Singley to their coaching staff, two sources said. Singley, joining from the Marlins, is set to be Baltimore’s field coordinator and major league catching coach.

Singley was the Marlins’ catching coach last year.
November 15, 2025 at 5:12 PM
A combo I didn’t expect, and the result is superb. Conor Oberst covers Blondshell’s “Event of a Fire”

open.spotify.com/track/7v40Qk...
Event of a Fire
open.spotify.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
As part of Orioles’ front office moves, they’re “unlikely” to hire a GM this winter. But they’ll be more involved in other ways.

“It will help us as we grow with a new coaching staff, having more consistent front office presence in that environment.”
www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...
Orioles ‘unlikely’ to hire GM under Mike Elias this winter
While Elias received a promotion ahead of last season, he said it’s not likely for a general manager to be hired this winter due to “the calendar” being tight.
www.thebanner.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:50 PM
The Orioles announce that a pair of relievers they waived have been claimed by the Atlanta Braves: right-hander Carson Ragsdale and lefty Josh Walker
November 13, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Mike Elias said yesterday the Orioles will be in the mix on the Japanese market. “If you’re an East Coast team, it’s a little bit of a disadvantage. … But I think with Sugano, we’ve demonstrated we can be a destination, and we’re going to keep working on that.”
November 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Mike Elias, from yesterday, said the Orioles are “very intentful on talking with those free agents and checking in on trade possibilities there,” regarding late-inning relievers. “Our preference is to land an experienced closer this winter.”
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
GM meetings in Vegas: Bet one dollar on a penny slot and lost it all.

More worthwhile, a few stories:

On how industry sources view the Orioles: www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...
On how Mike Elias views the Orioles: www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...
How can the Orioles be a competitor again? 5 MLB insiders weigh in.
“First and foremost, they need an anchor in that rotation,” one National League scout said. “They have forever. This is literally the biggest ‘duh’ in all of baseball, in my opinion.”
www.thebanner.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Confirmed Mitch Plassmeyer is returning to the Orioles staff, per source, as @richdubroffmlb.bsky.social reports.

Returners so far: Buck Britton, Ryan Klimek, Drew French, Mitch Plassmeyer. Plassmeyer was assistant pitching coach and fill-in bullpen coach
November 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
How can the Orioles be a competitor again? 5 MLB insiders weigh in on the team’s offseason.

“First and foremost, they need an anchor in that rotation. They have forever. This is literally the biggest ‘duh’ in all of baseball, in my opinion.”

www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...
How can the Orioles be a competitor again? 5 MLB insiders weigh in.
“First and foremost, they need an anchor in that rotation,” one National League scout said. “They have forever. This is literally the biggest ‘duh’ in all of baseball, in my opinion.”
www.thebanner.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Orioles are prepared for aggressive winter as they outline 3 wish list items.

Elias: “We’re trying to win, and this ownership group is willing to dip into the red considerably in order to do that.”

www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...
Elias: Top starter, late-inning reliever, impact veteran on Orioles’ wish list
Elias said the Orioles will target a front-line starting pitcher, a closer or late-inning reliever and an impact veteran who most likely can fit into the outfield picture.
www.thebanner.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Buck Britton, Drew French and Ryan Klimek are all expected to return to the Orioles coaching staff under manager Craig Albernaz, per source.

Last year, French was pitching coach, Klimek was pitching strategy coach and Britton was interim third base coach. TBD on exact titles.
November 12, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Orioles president of baseball ops Mike Elias said the club won't be turned off a player if they have declined a qualified offer to reach free agency.

Elias said they are "fully prepared" to "sacrifice the draft pick" in pursuit of a player if the fit is right.
November 12, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The Orioles will be part of the center field market, Mike Elias said. Colton Cowser remains an option in center but Elias said “there’s still room for center field help/depth at a minimum.”
November 12, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Mike Elias said right-hander Félix Bautista, who underwent shoulder surgery, could be back after the 2026 trade deadline. But the Orioles are not banking on him immediately being himself, so they want to add late-inning relief
November 12, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Mike Elias on Orioles payroll: “There’s a target zone we ID as a sweet spot of what’s healthy for the ownership group, the organization. But what I can say is it’s by no means tethered to the profits of the team. We’re trying to win … 1/2
November 12, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Mike Elias, president of baseball ops, said the Orioles will be “behaving as buyers” this winter, either in free agency or trade.

The wish list:

- Front-line starting pitcher
- closer or late-inning reliever
- Veteran bat, possibly to fit into the outfield
November 12, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Baltimore is “unlikely” to hire a general manager under him this winter. It remains a possibility in the future, however, as the Orioles flesh out their front office
November 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Scott Boras, asked about the Orioles' approach this winter, said: "They're going to be one of the more active clubs in free agency, for sure."
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Orioles have their bench coach under Craig Albernaz. They are hiring Donnie Ecker, source confirms, as Balt Sun reported first.

Ecker overlapped with Albernaz with the Giants and is joining Baltimore from the Rangers
November 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Ticket acquired for the great Twin Peaks reunion, their first concert in six years. My dad and I went to their penultimate show in 2020 in Indianapolis. Now a return, sans Dad, unfortunately.
November 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A reshuffle for the Braves. The Athletic reports Tony Mansolino, announced last week as Braves third base coach, will be instead Atlanta’s bench coach
November 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM