When Chaim Bloom takes over baseball operations, things tend to move-whether players want to or not. That’s becoming clear in St.

Louis, where Bloom, now steering the Cardinals through a much-needed rebuild, has shown a knack for navigating some of the trickiest contracts in the game. The early returns?

Painful for fans, yes-but also calculated, forward-looking, and potentially transformative.

This offseason, Bloom tackled a trio of tough trade chips: Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado. All three had no-trade clauses.

All three are now gone. And Bloom somehow managed to make it happen without completely gutting the Cardinals’ flexibility.

Let’s start with Gray. The veteran right-hander wasn’t exactly pushing for an exit, but Bloom found a way to make the move work.

St. Louis shipped him to Boston-Bloom’s old stomping grounds-while agreeing to eat $20 million of Gray’s $35 million salary for 2026.

That’s not a small number, but it’s the kind of financial concession that clears the deck for the future while still getting something back in return. Gray, for his part, had been open about his initial hesitation but ultimately warmed to the idea of joining a contender.

Next up: Contreras. This one was trickier.

The catcher had been vocal about his desire to stay in St. Louis, even meeting with former president of baseball operations John Mozeliak to express his commitment to the franchise.

But Bloom played the long game-and the money game. Boston once again came calling, and this time, the Red Sox sweetened the pot with a $1 million incentive for Contreras to waive his no-trade clause.

That was enough to get the deal done.

Then there’s Arenado. The biggest name.

The toughest task. And, arguably, the most telling move of all.

Arenado had been more open to leaving than Contreras or Gray, but his trade value had taken a serious hit. Still, Bloom managed to pull off what Mozeliak couldn’t.

A year earlier, the Cardinals had a deal lined up to send Arenado to Houston, only for the third baseman to reject it. Mozeliak tried again at the 2025 trade deadline, shopping Arenado to teams like the Yankees-but reportedly refused to eat enough of the contract to make a deal palatable.

The result? No takers.

Fast forward to this offseason, and Bloom finally got it done. Arenado was dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks, with St.

Louis covering $31 million of the $42 million left on his deal. It wasn’t cheap, but it was effective.

And it underscored a key difference in approach: Bloom was willing to take the financial hit now to clear space and reset the roster.

So what does this all mean for the Cardinals?

In the short term, it’s a tough pill to swallow. These are big names, fan favorites, and proven veterans. But in the long term, it’s about flexibility, prospect capital, and building a foundation that can actually compete in the years ahead.

The real test for Bloom will come on the other side of the rebuild. We’ve seen he can convince players to leave.

But can he bring stars in when the time is right? Can he sell free agents on a vision for St.

Louis that’s compelling enough to draw top-tier talent?

That’s the next chapter. For now, Bloom is doing what he was brought in to do: make bold, often unpopular moves to put the Cardinals back on a winning trajectory.

If he can pair that same savvy with the ability to recruit talent when the rebuild turns the corner, St. Louis might just be looking at a brighter future than most realize.