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Buck Showalter out as Orioles manager
A franchise-record 115 losses were apparently too many for manager Buck Showalter to keep his job.
Showalter will not return to the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 after nine seasons leading the team, a source confirmed to ESPN. None was worse than 2018, as Baltimore became just the fifth major league team since 1900 to lose 115 games or more in a season.
Showalter, 62, will not return to the team in any capacity next season, the source said. The Athletic first reported the decision not to retain Showalter.
Showalter received official word in a meeting with brothers John and Lou Angelos on Wednesday morning, sources told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The brothers have been overseeing much of the ownership responsibilities because of the declining health of their father.
Hired midway through the 2010 season, Showalter struggled out of the gate in Baltimore before leading the team to at least 81 wins in five straight seasons (2012-16). The Orioles reached the postseason three times, including the American League Championship Series in 2014.
But the past two years have been struggles.
Baltimore went 75-87 to finish last in the AL East in 2017 and followed that with one of the worst campaigns in major league history. During the 2018 season, stars like Manny Machado and Zach Britton were traded, as were key pieces such as Brad Brach, Darren O'Day, Kevin Gausman and Jonathan Schoop.
Showalter finishes with 669 wins with the Orioles, second-most by any manager in franchise history, behind Earl Weaver (1,480). Showalter's 1,353 games managed with the club trail only Weaver's 2,541.
Showalter will not return to the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 after nine seasons leading the team, a source confirmed to ESPN. None was worse than 2018, as Baltimore became just the fifth major league team since 1900 to lose 115 games or more in a season.
Showalter, 62, will not return to the team in any capacity next season, the source said. The Athletic first reported the decision not to retain Showalter.
Showalter received official word in a meeting with brothers John and Lou Angelos on Wednesday morning, sources told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The brothers have been overseeing much of the ownership responsibilities because of the declining health of their father.
Hired midway through the 2010 season, Showalter struggled out of the gate in Baltimore before leading the team to at least 81 wins in five straight seasons (2012-16). The Orioles reached the postseason three times, including the American League Championship Series in 2014.
But the past two years have been struggles.
Baltimore went 75-87 to finish last in the AL East in 2017 and followed that with one of the worst campaigns in major league history. During the 2018 season, stars like Manny Machado and Zach Britton were traded, as were key pieces such as Brad Brach, Darren O'Day, Kevin Gausman and Jonathan Schoop.
Showalter finishes with 669 wins with the Orioles, second-most by any manager in franchise history, behind Earl Weaver (1,480). Showalter's 1,353 games managed with the club trail only Weaver's 2,541.