Baltimore Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino is a candidate to have that temporary tag pulled, but the team also will consider others from outside the organization, president of baseball operations Mark Elias said on Monday.
Elias indicated there is some urgency to filling the position because of competition for candidates as other clubs have or create vacancies.
Mansolino replaced Brandon Hyde on May 17 when the Orioles were 15-28 and guided them to a 60-59 mark for an overall record of 75-87 to finish in last place in the American League East. Baltimore was 14-11 in September despite being swept in three games on the road by the playoff-bound New York Yankees to complete the season.
“I think he’s a very talented guy and has a lot of skills that would add up to a great major league manager now or in the future,” Elias said during the Orioles’ end-of-season press conference. “I’ve told him that we are going to utilize the opportunity to have the permanent chair vacant to talk to other people and learn and see who is available, who’s interested, and figure out who the right fit is for this team for 2026. That process is going to include him and he will be a real candidate, but I expect we are going to talk to other people, and we are initiating that process imminently.”
Mansolino, who turned 43 on Sunday, has been on the coaching staff since 2021 and has four seasons of managerial experience in the Cleveland Guardians’ farm system. He was on the staff of the Guardians in 2020.
“I got a lot of confidence in myself,” Mansolino said at the press conference. “In terms of being a full-time manager, yeah, I think I can do it anywhere. I think I can do it in a big market. I think I can do it in a small market, a rebuilding team, a win-now team.
“So, at no point, even the day Mike (Elias) kind of handed the reins to me, at no point did I feel overwhelmed or incapable of executing this job,” he continued, “and I think over the last four and a half months, I basically did a local and national interview on a daily basis that was incredibly invasive, and I do feel strongly that I passed with flying colors in a lot of ways.”
While he has public support from Orioles players, Mansolino will need approval for the job from Elias, president of business operations Catie Griggs and “different members of the ownership will be very involved,” Elias said of the search for a new manager.
Baltimore also could hire a general manager this offseason but is not in a rush, said Elias, who held that position before his promotion last spring that went without a formal announcement.
Mansolino sounded prepared to return to the organization in the same or a different role.
“I do feel strong that I’m in good standing here in one form or another,” Mansolino said. “That being said, I also understand the business and know how things kind of go and understand that I might have to wear a different uniform next year. So hopeful to wear the Orioles one and if that doesn’t work out, obviously gonna have to look around and go from there.”
