The Cardinals have made several front office hires, according to John Denton of MLB.com. Joe Douglas has joined the team as director of pro acquisition, while Jacob Buffa has been named senior director of international scouting. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has prioritized expanding the scouting department this offseason, Denton reports.
Douglas comes over after eight years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he worked in their scouting operations. He will now report to assistant GM and scouting director Randy Flores.
Buffa, meanwhile, spent nearly seven years with the Houston Astros, most recently serving as senior director of player development and performance science. He will work under assistant GM for international scouting Moises Rodriguez, per Denton.
This marks Bloom’s first offseason leading the Cardinals, after spending the past two seasons preparing to succeed longtime executive John Mozeliak. Bloom has expressed confidence in the team’s current structure, saying he doesn’t expect major shakeups. “I have a lot of respect for the people who have been here,” Bloom told Denton. “I hope and expect our senior staff will continue with us, though I do anticipate adding a few more front-office members.”
These hires are part of a broader effort to rejuvenate a club that has missed the postseason three straight years and hasn’t won a playoff series since 2019. There are signs of progress, however—the farm system climbed from 20th to 12th in MLB.com’s midseason rankings. The organization also added top talent through the draft, including left-hander Liam Doyle, the fifth overall pick, who immediately became the system’s top pitching prospect, and shortstop JJ Wetherholt, their 2024 first-rounder, who impressed in his first full pro season.