Central STL News

One of the key advantages Chaim Bloom brings to his new role as president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals is the familiarity he has gained with the organization and its players during his previous two seasons as an advisor. Bloom officially began his new responsibilities on Tuesday, following John Mozeliak's departure.

Reflecting on his time as an advisor, Bloom said, “One of the things that my last role allowed me to do -- because my phone wasn’t always ringing with the day-to-day [responsibilities] -- I had the opportunity to sit down with a lot of people, get to know them and see the organization through their eyes. There will be a learning curve even now, but to be able to shorten that and people can understand me a little more and I can understand them -- I understand some of the dynamics of this organization and the people, and that would normally take a year or two. To be able to have those conversations, it’s been enjoyable, but I also think it’s going to be valuable.”

Bloom now faces several significant decisions regarding the roster ahead of the 2026 season. Veteran players Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray have each expressed interest in playing for teams with championship potential as they move into later stages of their careers. Meanwhile, younger players like Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker received substantial playing time in 2025 but continued to face challenges at bat.

On Arenado’s desire to play for a contender, Bloom stated: “I think we all recognize that -- just where he's at and where we're at -- that there may be a better fit somewhere else. So we are, along with him, going to explore that. It is something that I think we're on the same page as to, ‘Hey, this makes sense to look at.’ … I just don’t see [a release] as a something that’s smart for us to do. So, if we’re unable to find that fit [elsewhere], then we’d be happy to have him back and we wouldn’t release him.”

Regarding Gray’s future with the team, Bloom noted: “With Sonny, the situation is a little bit different in that we do have a clear fit for him here, and he's enjoyed playing here. He's said very complimentary things to me about his time with the organization. I shared with him where we're headed, and I think he would be perfectly happy and a perfectly good teammate and contributor if he's here. But you know, we're going to see what's out there, and [see] if there's something that could make sense for us that furthers our goals, that he also wants to do.”

Bloom also addressed Masyn Winn’s progress: “I think he’s just scratching the surface of who he can be. He’s still learning what his best self looks like at the plate and where his ceiling is. The thing I’ve liked about him since I’ve gotten to know him is that a lot of young players will find a way out of the line when there’s a reason. But he likes to play. He plays, he’s posts and he’s a fighter.”

Speaking about Gorman's development over 2025: “In Nolan's case, he's shown it at this level, he showed flashes this year, but he just hasn't been able to stay there consistently. For him, coming into the offseason with a consistent and clear idea of who he wants to be and something that he believes in -- enough that it can withstand the ups and downs of the season and be something he’s willing to stick with it and he doesn't end up searching -- that'll be really important for him.”

On Walker's potential impact: “The offseason is going to be the real test of trying to really cement [the adjustments] and have them be second nature. I don't know that the comfort level was ever fully there [in 2025]. … I do think with this type of talent, this type of player, we are eventually going to see those results at the big-league level, for his sake. For our sake as an organization, we need that to happen soon.”

As Bloom prepares for what could become an important offseason for reshaping both veteran leadership and young talent on St. Louis' roster before 2026 spring training begins.