The St. Louis Cardinals are heading into their final season with John Mozeliak serving as team president. Following the conclusion of last season, Mozeliak announced he would not extend his contract, which is set to expire after the 2025 campaign. His tenure has included a World Series championship in 2011, six NL Central division titles, and nine trips to the postseason since he first took over as general manager in 2008.
The organization has already named Mozeliak’s eventual successor: Chaim Bloom. Bloom, formerly the chief baseball officer for the Boston Red Sox, had a rocky stint in Boston that included trading away Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his four-year tenure, the Red Sox failed to win a World Series and made just one postseason appearance. Bloom has a distinct management style, and it seems his influence is already being felt in St. Louis.
On Sunday, the Cardinals announced that Matthew Liberatore had secured a spot in the starting rotation over Steven Matz. Matz will move to the bullpen for now but is expected to return to the rotation on April 16, when the team shifts to a six-man rotation.
Cardinals Opening Day moves show Chaim Bloom era is upon us
How could this move be seen as a Bloom decision? During his time with both the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox, Chaim Bloom was known for favoring younger players and prospects, often prioritizing long-term development over immediate success. His approach focused on giving opportunities to up-and-coming talent rather than investing heavily in established veterans—an approach shaped in part by his experience with the Rays, who consistently leaned on their farm system and shied away from large financial commitments.
In contrast, John Mozeliak typically leaned on veteran additions to bolster the roster and compete in the present. A good example is last offseason, when the Cardinals signed veterans Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson to stabilize the rotation with hopes of pushing for a postseason spot. Despite a rocky start, the team found themselves in the NL Wild Card race by the trade deadline—though they ultimately chose to become sellers.
Even this past offseason marked a shift in philosophy. Mozeliak acknowledged that the Cardinals were entering a sort of rebuilding phase, opting not to aggressively pursue free agents.
Now, with Matthew Liberatore winning a spot in the starting rotation over veteran Steven Matz, the organizational shift seems more evident. Liberatore, who spent most of last season in the bullpen, posted a 4.40 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, with 76 strikeouts and 28 walks over 86 innings in 2023 (six starts). This spring, he primarily worked out of the bullpen in five of his six outings, but impressed with a 1.62 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, and nine strikeouts across 16.2 innings.
As for Matz, he’ll start the season in the bullpen but is expected to get another opportunity in the rotation by April 16 when the Cardinals move to a six-man setup. Matz dealt with a back injury last year and finished with a 5.08 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, and 15 walks over 44.1 innings (12 games). This spring, he posted a solid 2.29 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts in five starts spanning 19.2 innings.
The regular season hasn’t begun yet, but the influence of Chaim Bloom’s philosophy may already be taking hold in St. Louis—possibly signaling the start of a new era before it’s officially underway.
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