The St. Louis Cardinals have announced that high-profile executive Chaim Bloom will manage the organization into the future. Bloom has an eclectic past as an executive. What he’s done at his previous teams—the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox—will color the expectations for the Cardinals moving forward.
New Cardinals Executive’s Past Gives Insight Into Future
Bloom started with the Rays as an intern in 2005. By 2016, he was named senior vice president of baseball operations, second in command over all baseball decisions. He reached that height at the age of 33. His promotions along the way to 2016 included overseeing the Rays’ minor league operations, domestic and international development, and long-term strategic planning.
Perhaps Bloom is best known for overhauling the Rays’ farm system. He wrote a plan called the “Rays Way,” which was a guide to identifying and developing talent in the organization. When he left the Rays, according to MLB.com, the team had the No. 4 farm system in baseball.
Developing Prospects In Tampa Bay
When Bloom managed the Rays’ player development, the organization saw several high-level prospects rise through its ranks. Perhaps most notable was disgraced superstar Wander Franco. Other big names the Rays developed in Bloom’s time were Willy Adames, Blake Snell, Chris Archer, and Wil Myers.
Bloom is also credited with starting the “opener.” His use of bullpen games to keep the Rays competitive despite a lackluster starting rotation was one of his more inventive changes to the organization’s management. He could use similar roster construction for manager Oliver Marmol to fiddle with.
A Trade That Has Marred His Career
Bloom was hired as the Red Sox’s general manager in 2019. The team fired Dave Dombrowski a year after winning the World Series in 2018. Bloom entered the organization during a liminal period when ownership wanted to cut costs.
That led to the Boom orchestrating a much-maligned trade of Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. With an unimpressive return for the former MVP, the trade hung over Bloom’s time with the Red Sox.
From 2019 to 2023, Bloom served as the Red Sox’s chief baseball officer. During that span, the Red Sox made the playoffs once, reaching the ALCS in 2021. They also finished last in the AL East twice, in 2022 and 2023. When he left the organization, the Red Sox were the 16th-ranked minor league system, according to MLB.com.
Bloom had a mixed bag during his time managing the Red Sox roster. In addition to the Betts trade, he allowed Xander Bogaerts to go to free agency in 2022. He also signed Rafel Devers to a 10-year extension in 2023.
What All Of This Means For The Cardinals
Bloom has a reputation of innovation and an ability to get rid of popular players. He was first brought into the Cardinals organization in 2023 as an advisor to the current president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak. However, he will take on a more heavy-handed role in 2025 before taking over as top baseball executive in 2025. Bloom has been evaluating the Cardinals operations for the past year. At the press conference, he announced his role in the future with the Cardinals after the season ended, and he hinted he would examine every part of the organization.
“There is no area of the game that just stands still,” Bloom said. “So, if you want to get out front, you should be looking at everything.”
The Cardinals have already made some big decisions this offseason, including former MVP Paul Goldschmidt walk. They are also rumored to trade superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Bloom will make unpopular choices as head of the Cardinals. He will also likely be inventive in player development and roster decisions. His history suggests he will look internally for success, which fits with what the Cardinals have historically liked to do.
“Our baseball decisions going forward will focus on developing our pipeline of players, giving our young core every opportunity to succeed at the major league level,” said Bill Dewitt Jr., the Cardinals owner.
The focus will be entrusted to Bloom. He is entering a new chapter in his young executive career.
Main Photo Credits: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
