The Baltimore Orioles’ rocky start to the 2025 season has drawn criticism from all corners of the baseball world. From former players to current MLB analysts, the O’s are blamed for various reasons. Some call out their bad off-season, while some continue to blame the ownership.
Recently, former Cincinnati Reds GM Jason La Canfora identified what he feels is the biggest problem for the O’s. On Foul Territory, he discussed the O’s and outlined their struggles in 2025. The former manager didn’t mince words, squarely blaming the franchise’s woes on its own front office.
La Canfora thinks that the Orioles’ Vice President, Mike Elias, is the biggest problem.
“This guy can’t do it. He’s the problem. How’s the problem gonna fix itself when he won’t even admit it’s a problem?” La Canfora said.
When asked about the team’s trade targets before the offseason, he mentioned several players.
“Everyone. Ledger, Mellon’s gone. Eflin, Senga, Jorge Mateo, Ryan O’Hearn. I mean, whatever you can get from Mountcastle, they waited way too long for that. They should’ve traded him when he hit 30 home runs. Again, this isn’t revisionist history. I talk about this stuff four hours a day, five days a week. And you can check my Twitter feed too, it’s all timestamped,” La Canfora continued.
"He's [Mike Elias] the problem. How's the problem going to fix itself when he won't even admit it's a problem?"@JasonLaCanfora would trade almost everyone if he were running the Orioles. pic.twitter.com/gvWOlJf4EF
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 19, 2025
The former Reds manager is probably right since the O’s have remained silent and not shown any interest in adding players.
Baltimore Orioles Hold The Fourth-Worst Record In The Majors
It’s hard to imagine that the O’s made the playoffs in the last two years. In 2023, they held the best record in the American League. The team is reeling from a disappointing 15-31 start, which has already cost manager Brandon Hyde his job.
To make things worse, they failed to retain one of their best pitchers, Corbin Burnes. The All-Star secured a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks when the Orioles did nothing. La Canfora also mentioned that the team was holding onto Ryan Mountcastle too long and failed to address the pitching depth.
Now that Brandon Hyde has left, the Orioles face a tough situation. The team is actively searching for a new manager, and several candidates already top the list of favorites.
Also Read: “Modern Day Sandy Koufax” – Dave Roberts Excited For His Favorite Pitcher’s Historic Milestone