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BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 06:10 am As already reported, Bloom was able to receive two Top 100 Picks (#68 & #72) in the upcoming Draft to go along with the #13 pick the wet-fart for a Draft Lottery produced and the #32 pick via Competitive Balance A.

Prior to the deal, the Cardinals had the 8th highest Signing Pool allotment at ~$13.7M.

1 - Tampa Bay Rays: $19,590,500
2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: $18,592,800
3 - Chicago White Sox: $17,090,000
4 - Minnesota Twins: $16,410,400
5 - Kansas City Royals: $15,505,000
6 - Atlanta Braves: $15,415,700
7 - Colorado Rockies: $15,103,600
8 - St. Louis Cardinals: $13,741,900
9 - San Francisco Giants: $13,674,500
10 - Athletics: $13,399,500

For the 2025 Draft, the #68 & #72 Picks added about ~$2.4M to the team’s draft pool; which would move the Cardinals into the Top 5 for Draft Pool Allotment.
68. Brewers: $1,254,400
72. Cardinals: $1,145,900

This means they’ll have almost $2M more to spend on Draft Picks then they had last season when they had the 7th Highest at a combined $14.2M and the #5 Pick (Slotted at $8.1M). Hopefully, the Cardinals will see some high value HS players drop into their loving arms at #13, because they are ripe to take advantage of such good fortunes.

Where the Draft Is Headed Next: Money, Models, and Development
The 2026 MLB Draft is about more than just the players selected. It’s a pivotal moment in how teams build their future. Over-slot bonuses will continue to be a major tool in a team’s arsenal. As teams get better at scouting, data analytics, and player development, the draft will become an even more dynamic part of how organizations approach the long-term build.

The teams that will succeed in 2026 are the ones that balance financial risk with talent evaluation. In the years to come, the draft will continue to evolve, and front offices will have to stay one step ahead of the changes.

Some of you might remember the 2025 Brewers Draft Strategy; which emphasized high-upside, high school talent. They ended up selecting 12 high school players, with a significant chunk of those prep players on Day 2.

The 2025 Brewers had similar Pick Slotting, but far less money allotment (~13.1M). Hopefully, Bloom’s recent investments in Jupiter, funneling cash towards their new Pitching Academy and Player Development, will allow the Cardinals to leverage these compensation picks to acquire loads of high-end HS Talent in the 2026 Draft.

Get those scouts out to the HS Diamonds!

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 amWell... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 06:10 am As already reported, Bloom was able to receive two Top 100 Picks (#68 & #72) in the upcoming Draft to go along with the #13 pick the wet-fart for a Draft Lottery produced and the #32 pick via Competitive Balance A.

Prior to the deal, the Cardinals had the 8th highest Signing Pool allotment at ~$13.7M.

1 - Tampa Bay Rays: $19,590,500
2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: $18,592,800
3 - Chicago White Sox: $17,090,000
4 - Minnesota Twins: $16,410,400
5 - Kansas City Royals: $15,505,000
6 - Atlanta Braves: $15,415,700
7 - Colorado Rockies: $15,103,600
8 - St. Louis Cardinals: $13,741,900
9 - San Francisco Giants: $13,674,500
10 - Athletics: $13,399,500

For the 2025 Draft, the #68 & #72 Picks added about ~$2.4M to the team’s draft pool; which would move the Cardinals into the Top 5 for Draft Pool Allotment.
68. Brewers: $1,254,400
72. Cardinals: $1,145,900

This means they’ll have almost $2M more to spend on Draft Picks then they had last season when they had the 7th Highest at a combined $14.2M and the #5 Pick (Slotted at $8.1M). Hopefully, the Cardinals will see some high value HS players drop into their loving arms at #13, because they are ripe to take advantage of such good fortunes.

Where the Draft Is Headed Next: Money, Models, and Development
The 2026 MLB Draft is about more than just the players selected. It’s a pivotal moment in how teams build their future. Over-slot bonuses will continue to be a major tool in a team’s arsenal. As teams get better at scouting, data analytics, and player development, the draft will become an even more dynamic part of how organizations approach the long-term build.

The teams that will succeed in 2026 are the ones that balance financial risk with talent evaluation. In the years to come, the draft will continue to evolve, and front offices will have to stay one step ahead of the changes.

Some of you might remember the 2025 Brewers Draft Strategy; which emphasized high-upside, high school talent. They ended up selecting 12 high school players, with a significant chunk of those prep players on Day 2.

The 2025 Brewers had similar Pick Slotting, but far less money allotment (~13.1M). Hopefully, Bloom’s recent investments in Jupiter, funneling cash towards their new Pitching Academy and Player Development, will allow the Cardinals to leverage these compensation picks to acquire loads of high-end HS Talent in the 2026 Draft.

Get those scouts out to the HS Diamonds!

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:23 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 am

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:58 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:52 am Drafting a winning team for profit. The Cardinal Way. On sale at your local Barnes and Noble in the clearance isle. The true definition of unrealized gains, draft picks. Takes years to get them to the majors and productive (if they ever produce at all) then when they hit arbitration you sell them to a contender and start all over again. Sell the base on this perpetual "rebuilding" and pocket the cash. So smart only a billionaire would do it.

How much did they win the last decade with the midmarket FA “splurge” strategy?

Well... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

Cherry-picking? A decade isn’t cherry-picking. It’s an era

Cusecards wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:24 am

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:23 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 am

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:58 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:52 am Drafting a winning team for profit. The Cardinal Way. On sale at your local Barnes and Noble in the clearance isle. The true definition of unrealized gains, draft picks. Takes years to get them to the majors and productive (if they ever produce at all) then when they hit arbitration you sell them to a contender and start all over again. Sell the base on this perpetual "rebuilding" and pocket the cash. So smart only a billionaire would do it.

How much did they win the last decade with the midmarket FA “splurge” strategy?

Well... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

Cherry-picking? A decade isn’t cherry-picking. It’s an era

Wasting your time talking with him.
He’s about to call you a “kool-aid” drinker or a “bootlicker”.
Although I guess wallowing in misery is a way to go about it?

BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:40 am

Cusecards wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:24 am

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:23 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 am

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:58 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:52 am Drafting a winning team for profit. The Cardinal Way. On sale at your local Barnes and Noble in the clearance isle. The true definition of unrealized gains, draft picks. Takes years to get them to the majors and productive (if they ever produce at all) then when they hit arbitration you sell them to a contender and start all over again. Sell the base on this perpetual "rebuilding" and pocket the cash. So smart only a billionaire would do it.

How much did they win the last decade with the midmarket FA “splurge” strategy?

Well... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

Cherry-picking? A decade isn’t cherry-picking. It’s an era

Wasting your time talking with him.
He’s about to call you a “kool-aid” drinker or a “bootlicker”.
Although I guess wallowing in misery is a way to go about it?

Yes, wallowing in misery is a common approach on CT. And let’s not forget the DeWallet approach.

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:31 am

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:23 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 am

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:58 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:52 am Drafting a winning team for profit. The Cardinal Way. On sale at your local Barnes and Noble in the clearance isle. The true definition of unrealized gains, draft picks. Takes years to get them to the majors and productive (if they ever produce at all) then when they hit arbitration you sell them to a contender and start all over again. Sell the base on this perpetual "rebuilding" and pocket the cash. So smart only a billionaire would do it.

How much did they win the last decade with the midmarket FA “splurge” strategy?

Well... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

Cherry-picking? A decade isn’t cherry-picking. It’s an era

Let's be honest- the past 10 years have been poorly executed. A great organization lost their fastball. We expect (and the front office does to) pitchers and hitters to make adjustments when you aren't getting results. Those who don't, don't get to stay. The front office and ownership didn't adjust their model even in the face of poor results. Thus the pain of the present. The little adjustments you don't make in the present turn into a big deal. An overhaul is needed- not a tune up.

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:15 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 amWell... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

Wow!! They ALMOST won one game in the wild card round?? I never thought of it like that. I’m rethinking this whole thing. Now I’m really upset that they’re going in another direction.

ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:58 am Are there any ambidextrous pitchers available?

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:15 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 amWell... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

Wow!! They ALMOST won one game in the wild card round?? I never thought of it like that. I’m rethinking this whole thing. Now I’m really upset that they’re going in another direction.

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 11:20 am

Ronnie Dobbs wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:15 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 amWell... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

Wow!! They ALMOST won one game in the wild card round?? I never thought of it like that. I’m rethinking this whole thing. Now I’m really upset that they’re going in another direction.

Don't forget about the 3 World Series appearances and two Championships. As well as the playoff losses to the Dodgers and Giants. Unless you want to pick an arbitrary time and hold it up as an example.

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:23 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 08:02 am

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:58 am

CCard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 07:52 am Drafting a winning team for profit. The Cardinal Way. On sale at your local Barnes and Noble in the clearance isle. The true definition of unrealized gains, draft picks. Takes years to get them to the majors and productive (if they ever produce at all) then when they hit arbitration you sell them to a contender and start all over again. Sell the base on this perpetual "rebuilding" and pocket the cash. So smart only a billionaire would do it.

How much did they win the last decade with the midmarket FA “splurge” strategy?

Well... Cherry picking the time length doesn't look great. They did make the playoffs in 2022 and if not for the blow up of their closer Helsley, they in all almost assuredly would've have won game one. But this model did produce two World champions and numerous playoff games. But you go ahead with your story.

Cherry-picking? A decade isn’t cherry-picking. It’s an era

ramfandan wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 11:55 am Bloom just mentioned in his press conference how the Donovan deal would not have happened without the inclusion of the added draft picks.
They were important part of the trade.