What happened: New Baltimore general manager Jared Banner advocated for Chicago to acquire Pete Crow-Armstrong from the Mets. Banner knew Crow-Armstrong from his own time in the Mets organization before joining the Cubs front office.

Why it matters: The detail underscores Banner's player-development background as he takes over baseball operations alongside Mike Elias in Baltimore. Crow-Armstrong has since become a central Cubs contributor, highlighted by his three-homer game on Aug. 30. Baltimore hired Banner after his tenure as a Cubs assistant general manager.

What to watch: Baltimore now enters the offseason with Banner leading evaluations of the farm system and major-league roster. His draft-and-development approach will shape the Orioles' moves ahead of 2027.