September 30, 2025, will surely be etched in the memory of Chaim Bloom for years to come. On a day that saw him officially introduced as the new president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals, Bloom also got to witness the fruits of his previous labor blossom in dramatic fashion. That evening, three of his key acquisitions for the Boston Red Sox—Masataka Yoshida, Trevor Story, and Nick Sogard—powered the team to a thrilling victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series. Talk about a doubleheader of personal triumphs!
Bloom’s journey, though, hasn’t always been a smooth ride. His four-year stint with the Red Sox was marked by a 267-262 record and a single ALCS appearance. Critics have been quick to point out the high-profile departures of Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts under his watch, moves that have attracted no shortage of scorn in Boston sports circles. But dig a little deeper, and the narrative around Bloom starts to shift. Brought in to work wonders with a less-than-maximal budget, Bloom’s hands were often tied by fiscal constraints set by ownership. Had he been given carte blanche to spend, perhaps those controversial departures would look even more questionable today.
Yet, for all the criticism, Bloom’s contributions to the Red Sox are coming into sharper focus in 2025. The team’s current playoff run owes much to the foundation he laid, particularly in rebuilding the farm system and identifying undervalued talent. As one fan, Brian Grant, put it on social media, “Red Sox fans give Chaim Bloom a lot of grief, but he did a great job rebuilding the Red Sox farm system. The Red Sox would not be in the playoffs today if it wasn't for his contributions.” That’s high praise, and it’s hard to argue with the evidence on display in the Bronx.
Let’s break down the heroes of that pivotal Wild Card Game 1. Nick Sogard, acquired by Bloom in a February 2021 trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, was the unsung spark plug. Sogard went 2-for-4, including a seventh-inning double that showcased pure hustle and baseball smarts. Masataka Yoshida, signed by Bloom in December 2022, followed up by driving in both Sogard and Ceddanne Rafaela on the very next pitch, swinging the momentum squarely in Boston’s favor. And then there was Trevor Story, another Bloom signing from March 2022, who channeled Sogard’s energy in the ninth by stealing second after a two-out single. Story’s daring on the basepaths paid off when he scored on an Alex Bregman double, giving Boston a 3-1 lead that closer Aroldis Chapman would need to protect in the bottom of the inning.
It’s hard not to marvel at the symmetry of Bloom’s day—celebrating a new chapter with the Cardinals while his Boston legacy is burnished in real time. For all the heat he’s taken, Tuesday night was a showcase of his eye for talent and long-term team-building. It begs the question: are we sometimes too quick to judge baseball executives, whose work often doesn’t bear fruit until years after their departure? With the Red Sox now reaping the benefits of his underappreciated moves, Bloom’s reputation is getting a much-needed second look.
But what does all this mean for the Cardinals, the team now placing their faith in Bloom to engineer a similar turnaround? If his Boston blueprint is any indication, St. Louis fans can expect a focus on sustainable growth, smart acquisitions, and a willingness to take calculated risks on players who might need time to mature. The Cardinals, a franchise with a proud history but recent struggles, are betting that Bloom’s patient, methodical approach is just what the doctor ordered.
Speaking of calculated risks and veteran savvy, one name that’s been floated as a potential fit for the Cardinals’ 2026 rotation is Martin Perez. Perez was one of Bloom’s first signings when he took the reins in Boston. While his numbers with the Red Sox—48 games, 34 starts, and a 4.65 ERA over two seasons—weren’t eye-popping, Perez has carved out a respectable 14-year MLB career, logging over 1,631 innings with a lifetime 4.41 ERA. Not exactly Cy Young material, but there’s something to be said for reliability and leadership, especially on a staff with young arms looking to break through.
Perez’s journey since leaving Boston is a testament to perseverance. He found a second wind with the San Diego Padres in the latter half of 2024, posting a 3.46 ERA. In 2025, he joined the Chicago White Sox and managed a 3.54 ERA across 11 appearances (10 starts), though his season was hampered by a four-month absence due to a flexor strain and a bout of shoulder soreness that cut his final start short. Injuries are always a concern with veteran pitchers, but they also tend to lower the acquisition cost—a fact not lost on front offices looking for bargain depth.
Beyond the numbers, Perez brings intangibles that could be invaluable to a club in transition. He was part of the 2023 Texas Rangers’ World Series roster, sharing the experience with fellow pitcher Heaney. That championship pedigree and veteran presence could help mentor the Cardinals’ next wave of left-handed pitchers, including prospects like Liberatore, Mathews, and Doyle, who may be knocking on the big-league door as soon as 2026. In a rotation that will need both stability and guidance, Perez fits the bill as a steadying influence who can eat innings and show the ropes to the youngsters.
As the Cardinals plot their course for the upcoming season, Bloom’s track record suggests that he won’t shy away from taking chances on players like Perez. The risk may be there, but so is the potential for a high-upside payoff, especially if Perez can stay healthy and recapture his recent form. For a team seeking to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term development, these are the kinds of moves that can make all the difference.
For Chaim Bloom, September 30 wasn’t just a day of personal milestones—it was a validation of his philosophy and approach to building winning baseball teams. As he embarks on his new journey in St. Louis, Cardinals fans and observers alike will be watching closely to see if his patient, detail-oriented style can deliver the same kind of dramatic results that Red Sox fans witnessed in the Bronx. The story is still unfolding, but one thing’s for certain: Bloom’s impact on Major League Baseball is far from finished.
