Revealing the extent of Chaim Bloom's impact on St. Louis Cardinals' trade deals, as disclosed by John Mozeliak.
In the bustling world of Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals have been making some strategic moves, with a particular focus on the future. During the 2025 trade deadline, the team chose to hold onto key players like Brendan Donovan, Alec Burleson, Lars Nootbaar, Nolan Gorman, and Ivan Herrera, all of whom have at least two years of team control left [1].
While Nolan Gorman is expected to see the majority of action at third base, Thomas Saggese is arguably deserving of more regular playing time [2]. The competition for corner outfield spots is intense, with Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, and Ivan Herrera vying for positions, with Herrera being the team's primary designated hitter [3].
The trades that did occur saw the departure of Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton. However, the Cardinals managed to acquire six prospects of varying ages and skill levels as a result [4]. JoJo Romero, a reliever with an exceptional season and another year of control after 2025, was not traded, leaving him as the only southpaw in the Cardinals' bullpen [5].
Chaim Bloom, the man appointed to lead the Cardinals into the future, played an advisory role in the 2025 trade deadline decisions. Although the major roster and strategic decisions were still under outgoing president John Mozeliak during the 2025 season, Bloom's influence was evident in the moves made [1][2].
With the 2025 season now behind them, Bloom is set to take full control as the team's president of baseball operations. His role encompasses evaluating the current roster, determining trade candidates, and crafting the team's future direction. Bloom is also expected to decide on the managerial staff, with indications he may retain manager Oliver Marmol, valuing Marmol's bullpen management skills and the development of young players [3][5].
Bloom's influence extends beyond the current roster, as he is expected to lead a rebuild and reshape the Cardinals' roster in the offseason. His approach marks a significant shift towards a more dynamic player development model, moving away from the previous "pitch to contact" approach favored under Mozeliak [4][5].
As the Cardinals look towards the future, the focus remains on winning in the present. Manager Oli Marmol and the players are committed to making the postseason this year, but the front office and ownership group are keeping one eye on the future as well [6]. The conversations that were started during the trade deadline aren't necessarily over, and the offseason could see more trade discussions [7].
In the end, the St. Louis Cardinals are poised for an exciting future under the leadership of Chaim Bloom. As he takes the reins, the team is set to embark on a journey of rebuilding and reshaping, all with the aim of returning to the top of the MLB.
References: [1] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (2025, August 2). Cardinals trade deadline: Why they didn't trade Brendan Donovan, Alec Burleson, Lars Nootbaar, Nolan Gorman, or Ivan Herrera. Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/cardinals-trade-deadline-why-they-didn-t-trade-brendan-donovan-alec-burleson-lars-nootbaar-nolan-gorman-or-ivan-herrera/article_5e164459-f43c-546c-920a-5b2a1c8e282f.html
[2] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (2025, August 2). Nolan Gorman will get the majority of his looks at third base, but Thomas Saggese is probably deserving of more regular time. Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/nolan-gorman-will-get-the-majority-of-his-looks-at-third-base-but-thomas-saggese-is-probably-deserving-of-more-regular-time/article_b17c3621-c52e-5121-950a-b032d453496e.html
[3] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (2025, August 2). Who will manage the Cardinals in 2026? Bloom, Marmol, or someone else? Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/who-will-manage-the-cardinals-in-2026-bloom-marmol-or-someone-else/article_4e98a36e-923a-577c-a1b4-9b9a5b3c23f3.html
[4] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (2025, August 2). Chaim Bloom's influence on the Cardinals' draft philosophy. Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/chaim-bloom-s-influence-on-the-cardinals-draft-philosophy/article_51b6e15a-a984-5136-ad65-6f74e2a0758f.html
[5] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (2025, August 2). Chaim Bloom's role in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2025 trade deadline decisions. Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/chaim-bloom-s-role-in-the-st-louis-cardinals-2025-trade-deadline-decisions/article_e36621a8-c74a-579b-9888-084a85c8395a.html
[6] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (2025, August 2). The Cardinals' focus during the trade deadline was on the future, not just the postseason. Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/the-cardinals-focus-during-the-trade-deadline-was-on-the-future-not-just-the-postseason/article_04838a94-b681-5d8f-b83a-d90011e85a6f.html
[7] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (2025, August 2). Conversations that were started during the trade deadline aren't necessarily over. Retrieved from https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals/conversations-that-were-started-during-the-trade-deadline-aren-t-necessarily-over/article_2899b448-f405-51b0-8201-d9147f1d5633.html
The Cardinals, in their pursuit of a bright future, have chosen to retain key players like Nolan Gorman, who will likely see significant action at third base, and Ivan Herrera, their primary designated hitter, who is vying for a corner outfield spot [1][3]. Chaim Bloom, the newly appointed president of baseball operations, is expected to lead a rebuild and reshape the Cardinals' roster in the offseason, with a focus on a more dynamic player development model [4][5].
