Graham won't remain with Orioles in 2019 (with statement)

The Orioles are continuing to make dramatic changes throughout the organization, removing director of player development Brian Graham this morning, according to a source.

Graham returned to the organization in October 2007 after serving as the Pirates' interim general manager and was named director of player development six years later. He had been handling the GM duties for the Orioles on an interim basis after they decided to part ways with executive vice president Dan Duquette.

During his time in charge, Graham was instrumental in reshaping the 40-man roster and providing information on personnel to new executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias.

As a call-in guest last night on the "Orioles Hot Stove" show on 105.7 The Fan, Elias noted how he's been leaning on some of the holdovers while getting acclimated to the organization.

"I am very much relying on the expertise of the people who have been here, who know the players personally, who kind of know the trajectory the players have been on and some of the recent trends and so forth," he said.

Graham is the second notable departure this week. Director of scouting Gary Rajsich also has been told that he won't return next season. His contract ran out today.

The Orioles haven't made any announcements on the changes in the baseball operations, player development and scouting departments. However, it's clear that Elias wants to bring in his own people, which he explained to Graham, according to a source.

Vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson is the only holdover among the three top-ranking officials who currently remains with the Orioles. Graham, Rajsich and Anderson were singled out in the press release announcing that Duquette and manager Buck Showalter wouldn't return

Graham and director of baseball operations Tripp Norton represented the Orioles at the general managers meetings earlier this month. They sat down with other executives to gauge potential trade possibilities and with representatives of various free agents who might provide a fit in Baltimore.

This is the second departure for Graham, who spent one season on former manager Mike Hargrove's staff as the "eye in the sky."

Graham compiled a 704-491 record as a minor league manager in the Indians' system, with his teams making the playoffs in eight consecutive years and never finishing below .500 in nine.

Update: Graham posted the following statement:

"Mike Elias told me this morning that I did a great job and he thanked me for great job we did over the last couple of months, but that he needed to bring in his own people. I'm thankful to the Orioles organization and the Angelos family for the opportunities I was given. We did a great job in a lot of areas. There's a lot of really good people in the organization, and working with Buck Showalter was a great experience. Hopefully something good is on the horizon and I hope nothing but the best for Orioles."