The St. Louis Cardinals are no strangers to success.
But lately, that familiar winning formula has been tough to find. Outside of their surprise division title in 2022-fueled by a nostalgic surge from franchise icons Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina-the Redbirds have been stuck in neutral.
Three straight seasons without a playoff appearance, two of them below .500, made it clear: something had to give.
Enter Chaim Bloom.
The former Red Sox executive, known for steering Boston through a turbulent rebuild, has now been handed the keys to one of baseball’s proudest franchises. His mission?
Reset the Cardinals’ trajectory and build a sustainable contender in St. Louis.
And according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, he’s off to a strong start.
“This is what they need to do, at this moment in time, in their evolution as an organization,” Rosenthal said recently. “The direction Bloom has taken with this team-that is the proper direction.”
That direction has involved some tough, but necessary, decisions. The Cardinals moved on from several high-priced veterans, including Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Nolan Arenado.
These weren’t blockbuster prospect hauls, but they weren’t meant to be. These deals were about clearing the deck-both in terms of payroll and roster space-to allow flexibility and opportunity for younger talent to emerge.
It’s a strategy that prioritizes long-term health over short-term comfort. And while fans might not love seeing marquee names shipped out, this is how rebuilds work-especially when contracts and age limit the trade value of those veterans.
Not every move has been about clearing space, though. Trading All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan netted a significant return.
The Cardinals landed Jurrangelo Cijntje, a rare switch-pitching talent, along with two outfielders and a pair of top-75 draft picks in a three-team deal. That’s the kind of trade that can reshape a farm system-and early evaluations suggest it’s already paying dividends.
The farm system, once a source of pride in St. Louis, is now being replenished with upside and athleticism.
And while it’s too early to know which of these prospects will break through, the front office has clearly prioritized tools and versatility. That’s a bet on development-a bet that Bloom and his staff believe they can win.
Of course, this is just the beginning. More moves are likely on the horizon.
Outfielders Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson could be next in line to be dealt, as the Cardinals continue to stockpile young talent and future assets. These next few seasons may not be easy.
There will be growing pains. But that’s part of the process.
What matters now is that the Cardinals have laid the groundwork. They’ve made the hard calls.
They’ve committed to a vision. And while the wins might not come immediately, the foundation is in place for something lasting.
If Bloom gets this right, St. Louis won’t just return to contention-they’ll be built to stay there.