The St. Louis Cardinals didn’t just tweak around the edges this offseason - they hit the reset button. After a disappointing 78-84 finish in 2025 and a fourth-place showing in the NL Central, the front office, now led by Chaim Bloom, made it clear: this is a new era in the Gateway City.
Bloom, fresh off his stint running baseball operations in Boston, has wasted no time putting his stamp on this roster. The Cardinals moved on from several familiar faces - Sonny Gray, Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado, and Wilson Contreras - in a series of trades that sent shockwaves through the fanbase.
These weren’t fringe moves. These were cornerstone players, veterans who’d been part of the club’s identity.
But Bloom isn’t chasing nostalgia - he’s building for the future.
And that future is already drawing praise from around the league. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal noted that while the results will take time to fully materialize, the direction Bloom has chosen is the right one. “The moves he has made so far have been pointing toward a better future,” Rosenthal said during an appearance on Foul Territory.
That better future starts with pitching - an area the Cardinals have struggled to develop and sustain in recent years. The quartet of trades this winter significantly bolstered the organization's pitching depth. We're talking about both quality and quantity here - a much-needed infusion of arms that could form the backbone of the next contending Cardinals team.
But there’s a tradeoff. As CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry pointed out, the immediate cost is relevance.
With so many veterans out the door, the Cardinals are likely to take a step back in 2026 - and maybe even 2027 - before they take a leap forward. That’s the gamble Bloom is making: short-term pain for long-term gain.
Still, the cupboard isn’t bare. One of the most intriguing names to watch is JJ Wetherholt, a top prospect who now has a clearer path to playing time thanks to Donovan’s departure.
Wetherholt, a shortstop with a polished approach at the plate and 20-20 potential, brings a skill set that scouts believe can translate quickly at the big-league level. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel highlighted Wetherholt’s fit, calling him a player whose minor league success could show up fast in St.
Louis.
It’s not going to be an easy road, and fans will need to be patient. But this isn’t a teardown without a plan - it’s a calculated rebuild with a clear direction.
Bloom is betting on youth, depth, and development. And if the pieces come together the way he envisions, the Cardinals could be laying the groundwork for something special.
Chaim Bloom is going in the proper direction with the Cardinals, says @Ken_Rosenthal.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 3, 2026
"This is what they need to do, at this moment in time, in their evolution as an organization." pic.twitter.com/kgrfyLgoKN
Spring Training is just around the corner, and with it, the first real look at this new-look Cardinals team. The names on the jerseys may be different, but the expectations in St.
Louis never really go away. The question now is how quickly this rebuild can bear fruit - and whether Bloom’s bold vision can bring the Cardinals back to October baseball.