St. Louis Cardinals Announce Bloom to Take Over for Mozeliak \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Chaim Bloom will take over as President of Baseball Operations for the St. Louis Cardinals after the 2025 season, replacing longtime executive John Mozeliak. The announcement comes as part of a broader restructuring aimed at revitalizing the club’s player development system. Bloom, a former executive for the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox, has signed a five-year deal with the Cardinals. Current General Manager Mike Girsch will transition into a new role, while farm director Gary LaRocque steps down.
Cardinals’ Leadership Transition Quick Looks
- Chaim Bloom to Take Over: Chaim Bloom has been named as the successor to John Mozeliak and will assume control in 2025.
- John Mozeliak Steps Down: Mozeliak, who has been with the Cardinals since 2007, will remain until the end of 2025.
- Focus on Player Development: The Cardinals aim to revamp their player development approach, led by Bloom, to create a stronger pipeline for future success.
- General Manager Mike Girsch’s New Role: Girsch will take on responsibilities as vice president of special projects starting in 2025.
- Restructuring the Farm System: Farm director Gary LaRocque will retire at the end of the 2024 season but will serve as an advisor for one more year.
Deep Look
The St. Louis Cardinals have announced a significant change at the top of their front office, with Chaim Bloom set to replace the longtime President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak, after the conclusion of the 2025 season. The decision marks a new direction for the Cardinals, who are looking to overhaul their player development system in hopes of recapturing their past success after a couple of underwhelming seasons.
Chaim Bloom Steps In to Lead the Cardinals
Bill DeWitt Jr., the team’s CEO, made the announcement on Monday, stating that Bloom will join the front office on a five-year deal, with plans to oversee a comprehensive overhaul of the player development system before stepping fully into Mozeliak’s role. Bloom, who previously worked for the Tampa Bay Rays and then served as the Chief Baseball Officer for the Boston Red Sox, was fired by Boston in September 2023. However, he joined the Cardinals as an advisor in January 2024.
“Like many of our fans, we’re disappointed with our results the past two seasons,” said DeWitt Jr. during Monday’s announcement. He emphasized that the Cardinals’ core goals remain unchanged: consistently contending for NL Central titles and playoff appearances, ultimately striving for another World Series win. DeWitt acknowledged that the team’s immediate focus will be on rebuilding its farm system and giving their young talent every opportunity to develop and succeed at the major league level.
John Mozeliak’s Final Year and Legacy
John Mozeliak, 55, has been with the Cardinals for nearly two decades. He began his tenure as the team’s General Manager in October 2007, succeeding Walt Jocketty. In 2017, Mozeliak was promoted to President of Baseball Operations. He is the second-longest-tenured head of a baseball operations department in Major League Baseball, behind only the Yankees’ Brian Cashman.
Mozeliak stated that he advocated for Chaim Bloom’s hiring during the last offseason, seeing Bloom as someone who could provide a valuable outside perspective to assess the state of the organization. Mozeliak expressed optimism about the direction the team is taking and his own legacy within the franchise.
“I’m certainly willing to do the walk, because I feel like we’re going to position ourselves really well, and ultimately when you think about your own legacy and how you want to leave something, I’m certainly hopeful it will be left in a really solid place when I do step down next year,” Mozeliak said.
Other Key Changes in the Front Office
The Cardinals also announced that General Manager Mike Girsch will take on a new position as vice president of special projects, beginning in 2025. This role change is part of a broader front-office restructuring that seeks to strengthen the organization’s operations. In addition, farm director Gary LaRocque will retire from his current position at the end of the 2024 season, though he will remain on as an advisor through 2025 to help guide the ongoing restructuring efforts.
Chaim Bloom expressed enthusiasm for the changes coming to the organization, indicating that he has already begun the process of finding new leadership for the player development department. “Ownership has given the green light for us to make real investments across the department now and going forward,” Bloom said. “That starts with finding and empowering new leadership in player development which is a process that’s already begun.”
Challenges Ahead for the Cardinals
The Cardinals’ recent on-field performance has left much to be desired. They finished the 2024 season with a record of 83-79, missing the postseason for the second consecutive year. It was a disappointment for a team that has traditionally been a powerhouse in the National League. The dip in performance was also reflected in the team’s attendance numbers. Despite drawing 2,878,115 fans over 80 home dates at Busch Stadium, it was their lowest full-season attendance since 1997, which was DeWitt’s second year as the team’s owner.
The Cardinals have several decisions to make regarding key players this offseason. They hold options on veteran starting pitchers Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson, both of whom were signed to one-year contracts in November 2023. Additionally, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt will become a free agent after completing his five-year, $130 million contract. Goldschmidt’s status, along with those of other veteran players, will play a critical role in shaping the team’s future direction.
“I’m not anticipating any big contracts going yet,” Mozeliak said, indicating that the team needs more clarity regarding revenue before making significant long-term financial commitments. He emphasized the importance of evaluating the trade market and considering the value that current players bring, both from a leadership perspective and in terms of competitive potential.
Evaluating the Young Core
The Cardinals received mixed results from their young talent in 2024. Masyn Winn, who was a second-round pick in the 2020 draft, had a solid rookie season as the team’s everyday shortstop, hitting .267 with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs over 150 games. Alec Burleson, a fourth-round pick in 2020, led the team in RBIs with 78 and contributed 21 home runs.
However, other young players faced challenges. Jordan Walker, the team’s first-round pick from the 2020 draft, and Nolan Gorman, a 2018 first-round pick, both struggled at times and spent part of the season with Triple-A Memphis. These players had emerged as regular contributors in 2023, and their setbacks in 2024 represented a step back in the development process.
The team also parted ways with outfielder Dylan Carlson, the 2016 first-round pick who had earned NL Rookie of the Year votes in 2021. Carlson was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 30 after batting just .198 without any home runs in 59 games for the Cardinals in 2024.
Prioritizing Player Development
The Cardinals are focused on overhauling their player development system, which they see as the key to sustained success. Bill DeWitt Jr. emphasized that putting resources into player development is essential for keeping the team competitive in the long term. “Certainly, putting a lot of resources towards player development is a key part of us being competitive year in and year out as the years go on,” DeWitt said.
This emphasis on player development aligns with the hiring of Chaim Bloom, who gained a reputation for his ability to build competitive teams on limited budgets during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays. Bloom’s experience in developing talent will be crucial as the Cardinals look to enhance their farm system and create a strong pipeline of players capable of making an impact at the major league level.
What’s Next for the Cardinals?
The Cardinals are entering a period of transition as they look to rebound from a couple of lackluster seasons and return to contention. The arrival of Chaim Bloom marks a shift toward rejuvenating their player development pipeline and building a team that can compete consistently for NL Central titles and playoff appearances. With Bloom taking over for John Mozeliak after the 2025 season, the Cardinals are laying the foundation for a new era, one that they hope will bring them back to the forefront of Major League Baseball.
The team has made it clear that change is on the horizon, not just in the front office but on the field as well. With a young core that has shown flashes of potential, the Cardinals aim to create an environment that will help these players grow and succeed at the major league level. The focus is on making real investments in the farm system and player development to ensure that the team remains competitive for years to come.
As the Cardinals move forward, they will be navigating key decisions about player contracts, the coaching staff, and leadership positions within the front office. The goal is to build a cohesive strategy that allows the team to develop its talent effectively and consistently challenge for championships.
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