After multiple teams posted lackluster seasons or outright collapsed before the playoffs in 2025, the season experienced a managerial firing spree. One of the casualties was Brandon Hyde, former skipper of the Boston Red Sox's American League East rival, the Baltimore Orioles.
The rush for clubs to sign new managers has already started, and the O's have found their guy. Baltimore on October 27 formally announced its hiring of Craig Albernaz, a former minor league baseball player in the Rays organization and MLB coach since 2015. The 43-year-old has served as a minor league manager at multiple levels in the Rays organization, a bullpen and catching coach for the Giants, and bench coach and associate manager for the Guardians.