ORLANDO, Fla. – Even though he is no stranger to MLB’s Winter Meetings – even ones previously held in Orlando – Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom was so busy working on Monday that he hadn’t even noticed that various Disney World properties were within sight from the picture window of his hotel suite.
Sure, the Cardinals are likely to be more centered on building than contenting in 2026. But Bloom wants his leadership team pushing, prodding and focusing its energy on the urgency required to tackle the massive project ahead.
Quite frankly, Bloom said there’s no time for patience.
“It’s December and we’re not playing a game today, but there’s a lot of work we can do,” said Bloom, who is running the Cards’ front office for the first time after taking over in early October.
“Everybody who works for this organization … there’s something we can all do to get us closer to where we want to be. Even when we’re planning long term, we have to attack each day with that in mind. … You never know what might happen today that could be really important to helping us accomplishing our goals – whether that’s in 2026 or beyond.”
It's understandable that Bloom’s first day of the Winter Meetings was packed with meetings, considering the star power that his team is seemingly willing to surrender in trades to try to speed up a rebuild that might span multiple seasons.
Nolan Arenado, one of MLB’s most decorated and accomplished active players, is eager for a reboot elsewhere – theoretically with a World Series contender – for a second straight offseason. The Cardinals are listening to the many potential trade proposals on 2025 National League All-Star Brendan Donovan, veteran Willson Contreras, NL Silver Slugger Award winner Alec Burleson and prized lefty reliever JoJo Romero because those players’ primes might not align with the club’s timetable to contend again.
As one example of the uncertainty surrounding the Cards' roster for 2026, there are scenarios where as many as four returning players – Arenado, Donovan, Nolan Gorman or top prospect JJ Wetherholt – could be the starter at third base. One theoretical domino falling could trigger an avalanche of other moves that will shape St. Louis' short- and long-term futures.
“You try as best you can to not overcomplicate it,” Bloom said of the club’s roster construction. “Obviously, certain things could lead to other things, there are always contingencies and at every Winter Meetings I’ve been to you could dream up seven different possibilities. But at the end of the day, as things get close to being possible, there are usually one or two key consequences to doing something.”
The Cards had trouble dealing Arenado last offseason after he used the no-trade clause in his contract to block a proposed pact with the Astros. The same could happen again with him still owed $42 million – $37 million of it scheduled to come from St. Louis – but simply releasing the 10-time Gold Glover won’t be happening, Bloom said.
“That is not an option,” Bloom said with conviction.
Without being specific about which teams might be trade partners, Bloom did say the list of clubs that the third baseman would be agreeable to joining has increased. The D-backs are one of the new teams of interest to Arenado – especially if former teammate and close friend Paul Goldschmidt signs there as a free agent, per an MLB source.
“[Arenado] was clear with me – when we had a very good and honest conversation – that … there are a lot of reasons to pursue a different fit,” Bloom said. “He’s been very open as to what that might look like.”
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, who has yet to land a contract extension beyond the 2026 season, loves what he has heard from Bloom about the club being in attack mode as it rebuilds the roster. Though the coaches might have to grit their teeth as young players struggle, Marmol stressed that there will be no lowering of the expectations of the famed “Cardinal Way.”
“[Bloom's] been clear about that, and he stated it well when he said we're not conceding anything in the immediate,” Marmol said. “I love the mentality because you can't lower the standard. If anything, that's something that has to be really on point and continuing to keep it a really high standard. Having the right people in the room – not only staff but players that want to wake up and contribute to that standard and culture every day – [is important].
“Chaim communicated it extremely well that there's a sense of urgency to all of this. The better we are at our jobs, the quicker we turn this thing around.”