Chaim Bloom and Tanking… a History

[BleedingBleu]

I was curious if there was something we could take away from Chaim’s Time with the Rays & Red Sox. There doesn’t appear to be evidence of attempting to tanking the team for the #1 Overall Pick, despite the Cardinals’ 2026 Season looking that way.

I’ll let you decide. Here’s the highlights…

The highlighted years in the table below go as follows:
- February 2005, Bloom began working for the Tampa Bay Rays as an intern, was hired by the Rays full-time to work in Minor League Operations in October of the same year.

- 2011 Bloom was named Director of Baseball Operations, expanding his job to include contract negotiations, salary arbitration, budgeting, and overseeing major league support staff and international scouting.

Also, look at all those First Round Picks in 2011!? I only recognize Blake Snell out of that grouping of 10, but then again, that had to be pretty expensive for the Rays to throw into Rk and/or A-Ball.

- 2014, General Manager Andrew Friedman left the Rays organization, the Rays promoted Bloom to Vice President of Baseball Operations.

His responsibilities expanded to include his overseeing domestic and international player development, a newly created baseball performance science department, trade negotiations, pro, amateur, and international scouting philosophy, personnel additions and changes throughout baseball operations, and short- and long-term strategic planning.

- 2016 (not highlighted), became Senior VP of Baseball Operations, making him the #2 Man, behind Rays POBO Matthew Silverman

- October 25, 2019, the Red Sox hired the 36-year-old Bloom as Chief Baseball Officer

Tampa Tenure


The highlighted years in the table below go as follows:
- June 10, 2020, No First-Round Pick: The Red Sox forfeited their first-round pick as a penalty for exceeding the luxury tax threshold significantly in 2018, dropping their first selection to No. 43 overall.

- September 14, 2023. The Red Sox fire Chaim Bloom, who had a record of 267–262 during his time as Chief Baseball Officer.
Red Sox Tenure


btw, if we tank in 2026 and MLB Locks-Out December 2026 and they lose the whole season. Does that mean MLB still holds the 2026 Draft, and the Cardinals get the #1 Pick in 2026, too?

[AZ_Cardsfan]

Well first I don't think they are tanking. That would imply they want to lose more games. And the new lottery system doesn't guarantee the 1st pick anyway. So no point. I expect they will try to win as many games as possible unless it contradicts with the primary function of completing the rebuild. Such as keeping Donovan would contradict the effort to be a true contender in 2027 and beyond.

Looks to me as if he is doing everything he can to load the farm system with high ceiling potential aiming at creating a nucleus of talent to draw on beginning as soon as 2027. So far I'd say the team has done pretty much the right kind of stuff to accomplish that.

Still need to see Donovan dealt for prospects and Romero if they can get anything good. Whatever. History is always nice to read but the game is different and STL is a different city.

[BleedingBleu]

Well first I don't think they are tanking. That would imply they want to lose more games. And the new lottery system doesn't guarantee the 1st pick anyway. So no point. I expect they will try to win as many games as possible unless it contradicts with the primary function of completing the rebuild. Such as keeping Donovan would contradict the effort to be a true contender in 2027 and beyond.

Looks to me as if he is doing everything he can to load the farm system with high ceiling potential aiming at creating a nucleus of talent to draw on beginning as soon as 2027. So far I'd say the team has done pretty much the right kind of stuff to accomplish that.

Still need to see Donovan dealt for prospects and Romero if they can get anything good. Whatever. History is always nice to read but the game is different and STL is a different city.

So, how do you see this team without Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, and Brendan Donovan?

1.) LH - Noot (RF)
2.) LH - Wetherholt (2B)
3.) RH - Herrera (DH)
4.) LH - Burleson (1B)
5.) RH - Walker (LF)
6.) LH - Gorman (3B)
7.) RH - Winn (SS)
8.) LH - Scott (CF)
9.) RH - Pages (C)

Bench
RH - Saggesse MI
LH - César Prieto MI
LH - Nathan Church OF

RH - Yohel Pozo C/1B?
LH - Bryan Torres OF?
RH - Joshua Baez OF?
RH - José Fermín MI?

[juan good eye]

Well first I don't think they are tanking. That would imply they want to lose more games. And the new lottery system doesn't guarantee the 1st pick anyway. So no point. I expect they will try to win as many games as possible unless it contradicts with the primary function of completing the rebuild. Such as keeping Donovan would contradict the effort to be a true contender in 2027 and beyond.

Looks to me as if he is doing everything he can to load the farm system with high ceiling potential aiming at creating a nucleus of talent to draw on beginning as soon as 2027. So far I'd say the team has done pretty much the right kind of stuff to accomplish that.

Still need to see Donovan dealt for prospects and Romero if they can get anything good. Whatever. History is always nice to read but the game is different and STL is a different city.

What increases the odds of winning the draft lottery?

[Cusecards]

Well first I don't think they are tanking. That would imply they want to lose more games. And the new lottery system doesn't guarantee the 1st pick anyway. So no point. I expect they will try to win as many games as possible unless it contradicts with the primary function of completing the rebuild. Such as keeping Donovan would contradict the effort to be a true contender in 2027 and beyond.

Looks to me as if he is doing everything he can to load the farm system with high ceiling potential aiming at creating a nucleus of talent to draw on beginning as soon as 2027. So far I'd say the team has done pretty much the right kind of stuff to accomplish that.

Still need to see Donovan dealt for prospects and Romero if they can get anything good. Whatever. History is always nice to read but the game is different and STL is a different city.

Agree
Not exactly sure where this thought of tanking comes from??
Assuming they deal Arenado(and possibly Contreras) they are basically moving on from players who are aging and past their primes.
That just makes common sense.
The key is can they draft and DEVELOP their younger talent?
Something that has dropped off in recent years.

[CCard]

Well first I don't think they are tanking. That would imply they want to lose more games. And the new lottery system doesn't guarantee the 1st pick anyway. So no point. I expect they will try to win as many games as possible unless it contradicts with the primary function of completing the rebuild. Such as keeping Donovan would contradict the effort to be a true contender in 2027 and beyond.

Looks to me as if he is doing everything he can to load the farm system with high ceiling potential aiming at creating a nucleus of talent to draw on beginning as soon as 2027. So far I'd say the team has done pretty much the right kind of stuff to accomplish that.

Still need to see Donovan dealt for prospects and Romero if they can get anything good. Whatever. History is always nice to read but the game is different and STL is a different city.

Agree
Not exactly sure where this thought of tanking comes from??
Assuming they deal Arenado(and possibly Contreras) they are basically moving on from players who are aging and past their primes.
That just makes common sense.
The key is can they draft and DEVELOP their younger talent?
Something that has dropped off in recent years.

If you're seriously trying to win next year, you probably don't trade your best pitcher, best lefty reliever, best hitter. That's just common sense. Arenado? Okay, he's replaceable the way he played. Gray wasn't great but he was the best on the team. Contreras was their most feared hitter and productive enough. Jojo was their best lefty reliever and something that's hard to replace for a contending team. So if that's not tanking then what is it? Now if the young pitchers they got for Gray step up and replace his production or better then that's me eating crow. But why replace your best hitter and best lefty reliever? Only reason is to cut salary and hope of hitting the lottery with some minor league prospects. Either way, if you're going into a season planning on not competing then you're tanking in my book.

[Cusecards]

Respectfully disagree with everything you just said.

[Hoosier59]

Well first I don't think they are tanking. That would imply they want to lose more games. And the new lottery system doesn't guarantee the 1st pick anyway. So no point. I expect they will try to win as many games as possible unless it contradicts with the primary function of completing the rebuild. Such as keeping Donovan would contradict the effort to be a true contender in 2027 and beyond.

Looks to me as if he is doing everything he can to load the farm system with high ceiling potential aiming at creating a nucleus of talent to draw on beginning as soon as 2027. So far I'd say the team has done pretty much the right kind of stuff to accomplish that.

Still need to see Donovan dealt for prospects and Romero if they can get anything good. Whatever. History is always nice to read but the game is different and STL is a different city.

Agree
Not exactly sure where this thought of tanking comes from??
Assuming they deal Arenado(and possibly Contreras) they are basically moving on from players who are aging and past their primes.
That just makes common sense.
The key is can they draft and DEVELOP their younger talent?
Something that has dropped off in recent years.

If you're seriously trying to win next year, you probably don't trade your best pitcher, best lefty reliever, best hitter. That's just common sense. Arenado? Okay, he's replaceable the way he played. Gray wasn't great but he was the best on the team. Contreras was their most feared hitter and productive enough. Jojo was their best lefty reliever and something that's hard to replace for a contending team. So if that's not tanking then what is it? Now if the young pitchers they got for Gray step up and replace his production or better then that's me eating crow. But why replace your best hitter and best lefty reliever? Only reason is to cut salary and hope of hitting the lottery with some minor league prospects. Either way, if you're going into a season planning on not competing then you're tanking in my book.

Amen, brother!
That’s the way I see it too! Dewitt, wants to cut the payroll as much as possible until there’s a new labor agreement. No other excuse to get rid of all the players they are talking about.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Zero chance we are tanking for the #1 pick.

[ecleme22]

Not tanking. Rebuilding.

[Hoosier59]

Not tanking. Rebuilding.

So, getting rid of everyone making more than 3 mil, is not tanking? Ok…..

[Cusecards]

Again.....exactly WHO have we moved on from SO FAR that makes sense for the future?
Fedde??
Mikolas??
Gray???
Based on age/productivity they all made sense!
Add Arenado to that list of making sense.
Contreras is borderline to me.
Now....if they move Donovan that is a different story but I don’t think he moves unless Bloom gets his price in return.
Otherwise Donovan stays!

[Goldfan]

Not tanking. Rebuilding.

Can you list what the Cards have “Rebuilt” with?
So far we received a RH SP who has an injury history and a 5.00 ERA and a LH minor league injury history SP
UNLESS Bloom acquires greater talent than he’s trading and produces greater talent out of the minors than is currently on this team this “rebuild” is a fantasy

[Ozziesfan41]

Not tanking. Rebuilding.

Can you list what the Cards have “Rebuilt” with?
So far we received a RH SP who has an injury history and a 5.00 ERA and a LH minor league injury history SP
UNLESS Bloom acquires greater talent than he’s trading and produces greater talent out of the minors than is currently on this team this “rebuild” is a fantasy

I don’t think you quite understand quite how a rebuild works.
In a rebuild you accumulate as many high end prospects as possible because not all will hit but the more you have the more you will have that hit and when they do you then sign and trade for players who fill the holes around them. Previously every few years the cardinals would develop a starter with top of the rotation stuff wacha or Reyes or flaherty but because they sucked at accumulating talent their eggs were in one basket and when injuries derailed them the cardinals had no other high upside arms. Now bloom is taking steps to accumulate as many high upside arms as possible Doyle, Franklin Clarke he will probably pick up a couple of more and the chances are one of them will hit. Gray hasn’t helped the cardinals win anything he wasn’t going to help them win anything next season the weren’t ever going to get some super ace for him anyone who
Thinks they could have are delusional

[Cusecards]

Not tanking. Rebuilding.

Can you list what the Cards have “Rebuilt” with?
So far we received a RH SP who has an injury history and a 5.00 ERA and a LH minor league injury history SP
UNLESS Bloom acquires greater talent than he’s trading and produces greater talent out of the minors than is currently on this team this “rebuild” is a fantasy

I don’t think you quite understand quite how a rebuild works.
In a rebuild you accumulate as many high end prospects as possible because not all will hit but the more you have the more you will have that hit and when they do you then sign and trade for players who fill the holes around them. Previously every few years the cardinals would develop a starter with top of the rotation stuff wacha or Reyes or flaherty but because they sucked at accumulating talent their eggs were in one basket and when injuries derailed them the cardinals had no other high upside arms. Now bloom is taking steps to accumulate as many high upside arms as possible Doyle, Franklin Clarke he will probably pick up a couple of more and the chances are one of them will hit. Gray hasn’t helped the cardinals win anything he wasn’t going to help them win anything next season the weren’t ever going to get some super ace for him anyone who
Thinks they could have are delusional

Oz....you do realize that you’re talking with a unique combination of whiner and imbecile?

[Goldfan]

Not tanking. Rebuilding.

Can you list what the Cards have “Rebuilt” with?
So far we received a RH SP who has an injury history and a 5.00 ERA and a LH minor league injury history SP
UNLESS Bloom acquires greater talent than he’s trading and produces greater talent out of the minors than is currently on this team this “rebuild” is a fantasy

I don’t think you quite understand quite how a rebuild works.
In a rebuild you accumulate as many high end prospects as possible because not all will hit but the more you have the more you will have that hit and when they do you then sign and trade for players who fill the holes around them. Previously every few years the cardinals would develop a starter with top of the rotation stuff wacha or Reyes or flaherty but because they sucked at accumulating talent their eggs were in one basket and when injuries derailed them the cardinals had no other high upside arms. Now bloom is taking steps to accumulate as many high upside arms as possible Doyle, Franklin Clarke he will probably pick up a couple of more and the chances are one of them will hit. Gray hasn’t helped the cardinals win anything he wasn’t going to help them win anything next season the weren’t ever going to get some super ace for him anyone who
Thinks they could have are delusional

Oz....you do realize that you’re talking with a unique combination of whiner and imbecile?

No Really Oz….is that how a rebuild works????
MY POINT was BDW is dumping salary…..Donny isn’t going to return a high upside arm. Fitts isn’t a High upside arm. The jury is out on the lefty
So you want to really REBUILD then tank and get years of those top draft picks but they’re not doing that and they’re dangling it out there that they want to compete next season