Mike Elias basks in Orioles' offseason glow while avoiding one tough truth

One of the funniest things that baseball executives do when they fix an issue is try to act like they weren't the ones who created the problem in the first place. Mike Elias deserves an ounce of credit for the success that the Baltimore Orioles have had this offseason. There's no question he followed through on his promises. That being said, Orioles fans shouldn't forget the fact that Elias is very much the reason why 2025 was a miserable year.

Elias had no backup plan last offseason after Corbin Burnes departed for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and before this winter, the richest free-agent deal he made aged horribly after just one season. He had no answer for the regression that plagued the Orioles' starting lineup last year, and honestly, he should've been shown the door at the end of the regular season.

Excuse us if we're a little annoyed with Elias' response to the criticism he received on social media last season.

Even after a successful offseason, Mike Elias finds a way to step in it.

There are plenty of things that are comical from the exchange. First of all, that isn't a reporter asking that question to Elias. That is his boss. The man who signed off on the firing of Brandon Hyde during the season, and the one who could eventually sign off on Elias' firing.

It may not have been the intention, but David Rubenstein's read like he was saying, "Hey, I should have fired you last season, if the fans got their wish, what did that feel like?"

Elias' response was the icing on the cake. Making light of the frustration fans had last season. Again, Elias' poor decisions were the origin story for the failures of Baltimore's 2025 season.

Elias, with his response, also suggested he has a burner account. We're not saying he's the voice behind "MLB Executive Burner", but it's hard to ignore the similarity between the bad baseball takes and Elias' bad decision-making.

The hope is that Elias, after this winter, will offer fewer opportunities to make fun of him. With the trades for Shane Baz and Taylor Ward, signing Pete Alonso and Ryan Helsley, the Orioles' president has catered to the desires of a fanbase that was begging for an aggressive offseason. Time will tell if it sets up the Orioles to return to contention.