ST. LOUIS — A year that was supposed to be a “return of pride” ended with disappointment and empty seats scattered across Busch Stadium. After finishing the 2025 season with a 78-84 record and a drop in attendance of more than 600,000, the St. Louis Cardinals leadership was forced to act — and Chaim Bloom, the team’s new President of Baseball Operations, just announced plans to spend $10 million on a complete rebuild.
“We don’t just need a new team — we need a new identity,” Bloom said, his voice low and firm at a press conference this morning at Busch Stadium. “I’m not here to patch things up. I’m here to rebuild.”
Bloom — who made a name for himself by transforming the Boston Red Sox into a team rich in youth and financial discipline — is now bringing a “radical overhaul” spirit to St. Louis. According to multiple sources close to the matter, he has been given full reins of baseball operations by owner Bill DeWitt III, including the authority to restructure the coaching staff, expand the international training system, and upgrade the entire Busch Stadium infrastructure.
The first $10 million in investment is expected to go toward three main areas:
Renovating training and sports science facilities to help players recover faster and reduce injuries.
Upgrading the stands and fan zones to restore the stadium experience after a year of steep revenue declines.
Increased scouting and data analytics budget, moving toward Bloom’s signature “Moneyball 2.0” model.
“It’s not about the budget anymore,” an inside source said. “Bloom is tasked with changing the DNA of the team.”
After two straight postseason exits, the Cardinals have lost their status as MLB’s “biggest player in the Middle.” Fans have turned away, ticket sales have plummeted, and locker room morale has hit rock bottom.
But for Bloom, the crisis is just the beginning of a revolution.
“If you ask me, this is the best opportunity — because when you hit rock bottom, everything is up,” Bloom told ESPN.
A source at MLB Network added: Bloom is considering re-signing Yadier Molina as a special advisor to “revive the Cardinals Way” — a value he believes the team has lost over the past few years.
Experts say Bloom’s plan is “risky but necessary.”
ESPN’s Jeff Passan writes:
“If you give Chaim Bloom $10 million and carte blanche to rebuild, he’s not buying players, he’s buying vision.”
Meanwhile, former legend Adam Wainwright shared on social media:
“St. Louis deserves a fresh start. I trust Chaim to do it the right way.”
Sources say Bloom has a list of six potential targets — two free agents and four tradeable players from teams like the Rays, Guardians, and Diamondbacks. Instead of “spending money like crazy,” however, he is said to be looking to invest in a sustainable development platform, similar to what the Red Sox did in 2020.
When asked about the 2026 goal, Bloom just smiled:
“I don’t promise to win a championship right away. But I promise that when the fans come back, they will realize this is the real Cardinals.”
This winter, the St. Louis sky is not only cold because of the wind — but also because of the storm of renovations rising from inside Busch Stadium.
And for Chaim Bloom, $10 million is just the first step in the dream of reviving a dormant empire.
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