Being the architect of a Major League Baseball roster is one of the most scrutinized roles in sports. Every move is dissected, debated, and often second-guessed – especially when it involves trading away a franchise cornerstone.
Just ask Chaim Bloom, the new president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bloom isn’t just taking on the challenge of rebuilding a storied franchise; he’s doing it with a reputation still echoing from one of the most polarizing trades in recent memory.
Back in 2020, while running the show in Boston, Bloom pulled the trigger on a move that sent Mookie Betts – a beloved MVP and fan favorite – to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The fallout was immediate and intense.
Red Sox fans were furious, and Bloom became the face of a decision that many still haven’t forgiven. Whether the trade was his call or a directive from ownership remains murky, but the perception stuck: Bloom was the guy who traded Mookie.
Now in St. Louis, Bloom is facing a different kind of rebuild, but the past still lingers – even at home. In a recent appearance on the Foul Territory podcast, Bloom shared a moment that was both humorous and telling: his own kids have joined the chorus of critics.
“Dad, WHAT are you doing?” was the reaction from his oldest son upon learning that his father was the one who sent Betts packing. It’s a moment that’s both relatable and revealing – even inside the Bloom household, the Mookie trade still stings.
That kind of honesty – and humility – is a departure from the Cardinals’ previous front office leadership. John Mozeliak, the longtime president of baseball operations, was known for his reserved approach and rarely pulled back the curtain on his personal life. Even as his son William pursued a path in baseball analytics at Villanova, Mozeliak kept family matters out of the spotlight.
Bloom, on the other hand, isn’t afraid to show the human side of the job. He’s not just a number-crunching executive; he’s a father who has to answer tough questions at the dinner table. It’s a small but meaningful shift in tone for a Cardinals front office that’s entering a new era.
And that transparency isn’t just reserved for his kids. Bloom has made it clear that he welcomes questions – even the uncomfortable ones – from fans.
He knows the job comes with heat, especially in a baseball town like St. Louis, where expectations are sky-high and patience is in short supply.
But if he can handle the critiques coming from his own living room, he’s probably ready for whatever the fanbase throws his way.
As Bloom begins to reshape the Cardinals’ roster, there’s no doubt the decisions ahead will be closely watched. But in sharing that even his own children once questioned one of the most talked-about trades in recent history, he’s offered a glimpse into the pressures – and personal stakes – that come with the job. And maybe, just maybe, that honesty will buy him a little grace as he tries to turn things around in the Gateway City.
