Chaim Bloom’s inaugural offseason as the St. Louis Cardinals’ president of baseball operations has already been packed with activity. He has broadened both the coaching and instructor staffs and has been transparent about pursuing trades to reshape the roster.
Early fan reaction to Bloom’s decisions has been largely favorable. Supporters sense a defined organizational direction, and even though some rumored moves might be painful, there is growing confidence that Bloom will make the right calls.
Still, there are several potential decisions Bloom could make that would quickly sour public opinion. The following three moves, in particular, could damage the positive first impressions he has built.
Re-signing Miles Mikolas would assuredly frustrate fans.
Cardinals fans have grown weary of watching Miles Mikolas pitch in their uniform. Although his initial years in St. Louis were strong, the latter portion has been forgettable. Between 2023 and 2025, Mikolas logged 98 starts with a 4.98 ERA across 529.1 innings. His 4.49 FIP and 85 ERA+ show he performed 15 percent below league average in that span. Despite being paid $55.75 million, he produced only two bWAR.
It is time for the Cardinals to move on from Mikolas.
Given his recent performance, Mikolas is unlikely to command much on the open market. Spotrac projects him for a one-year, six-million-dollar deal, which may even be generous. St. Louis could technically handle a five-million-dollar contract, but bringing him back would hurt both team performance and morale among fans.
If Chaim Bloom re-signs Miles Mikolas, fans may riot in the streets outside Busch Stadium.
If Chaim Bloom doesn’t get a solid package of prospects for Brendan Donovan, fans will be left disappointed.
As the offseason advances, the likelihood of a Brendan Donovan trade has increased. The versatile All-Star has drawn heavy interest, with one insider noting that more than 20 teams have already checked in.
That attention does not guarantee a massive return, but it is encouraging. If Bloom moves Donovan, he could pursue a controllable starter like Ryan Bergert or Noah Cameron from the Royals, or a near-Major League top-100 prospect such as Carlos Lagrange of the Yankees.
What would frustrate fans is if Bloom targeted prospects who are years away from helping at the big-league level. A nineteen-year-old might turn into a star, but just as easily could fail to develop.
Trading Donovan may be necessary if the organization is taking a long-term view. Since he represents the identity of the Cardinals and is a fan favorite, Bloom must secure a strong return. A top-100, near-ready prospect or a current major-league contributor is a reasonable expectation.
Holding onto Nolan Arenado for the second straight offseason will send fans into a tizzy.
Nolan Arenado’s name is once again dominating trade speculation. At 34 and owed 31 million dollars over the next two seasons, his contract poses challenges to the Cardinals’ offseason plans.
The team attempted to trade the 10-time Gold Glover last offseason, but he vetoed a deal to the Astros. He reportedly has a longer list of acceptable destinations this year, though that does not guarantee an easy trade.
Arenado wrapped up 2025 hitting .237/.289/.377 with a .666 OPS, only 12 home runs, 52 RBI, and an 87 OPS+. His bat has declined sharply since 2022, though his defense remains steady and valuable.
If Bloom fails to find a trade partner and Arenado stays, fans will be disappointed. While his legacy is unquestioned, it is time to shift toward younger talent. Keeping Arenado in 2026 could delay JJ Wetherholt’s debut and restrict spending on much-needed pitching help.
