Chaim Bloom is staying aggressive in his quest to rebuild the St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching depth - and the latest move is another low-risk, potentially high-reward play.
The Cardinals have signed left-hander Jared Shuster to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp this spring. It’s a quiet move on the surface, but one that fits the blueprint Bloom has followed since taking over as president of baseball operations: find arms with pedigree, upside, and something left to prove.
Shuster, once a top prospect in the Braves system, was taken 25th overall in the 2020 draft out of Wake Forest. At the time, he was seen as a polished college arm with a solid three-pitch mix - fastball, changeup, slider - and strong command. That command was evident early in his pro career, as he posted a 6.8% walk rate in the minors before making his MLB debut.
But like many young pitchers, Shuster’s first taste of the majors didn’t go according to script. In 2023, he made 11 starts for Atlanta and struggled to a 5.81 ERA.
After the season, he was traded to the White Sox in the deal that sent Aaron Bummer to the Braves. In Chicago, his role shifted - he made just six starts over two seasons, appearing mostly out of the bullpen.
The numbers in 2025 weren’t pretty: 14 earned runs over 15.2 innings. But here’s where it gets interesting - his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) was just 2.94.
That’s a huge gap, and it suggests he may have been the victim of some brutal luck, poor defense behind him, or both. For a team like the Cardinals, who are actively listening to trade offers for veteran arms and reshaping their bullpen, that’s exactly the kind of profile worth betting on.
If JoJo Romero is indeed moved, as has been rumored, Shuster could have a real shot at cracking the Opening Day roster - likely as a lefty out of the ‘pen. And at 27 years old, he’s still young enough to find his footing and contribute meaningfully, whether in St. Louis or as a trade chip down the line.
That’s where Bloom’s strategy starts to take shape. Sign a guy like Shuster, give him innings, and if he clicks, you’ve either got a controllable bullpen piece or a midseason asset you can flip for more prospects. It’s the same logic behind the Dustin May signing - take chances on arms with talent and upside, even if the recent results don’t sparkle.
For the Cardinals, this is the kind of move that carries virtually no downside. If Shuster doesn’t pan out, they move on. But if he finds the form that once made him a top-100 prospect, the payoff could be significant - especially for a team in transition.
This is the new normal in St. Louis.
With Bloom at the helm, expect more moves like this - calculated gambles on arms with potential. The rebuild is underway, and while it may feel unfamiliar to Cardinals fans used to perennial contention, it’s clear the front office is committed to building something sustainable.
Shuster might not be the final piece, but he’s the kind of dart throw that can quietly help reshape a bullpen - or bring back value at the deadline. Either way, it’s a move worth watching.