Chaim Bloom is starting to write a new ‘Story’ in Boston
The Red Sox made a huge splash on Sunday agreeing to terms with free agent infielder Trevor Story on a six-year, $140 million deal.
Boston has been connected to the top free agents all offseason and with the Story singing, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom hands out the biggest contract during his tenure.
The acquisition of Story allows for Bloom to begin to write a new narrative around how he’s perceived in Boston.
Boston hired Bloom back in October 2019 bringing the longtime Rays executive to the Red Sox after spending 15 years in Tampa Bay. The hiring of Bloom came on the heels of the Red Sox parting ways with President of Baseball Ops Dave Dombrowski weeks before.
"We believe Chaim is exactly the right person to lead the Boston Red Sox baseball operation based on a number of attributes we sought in this process," Red Sox principal owner John Henry said.
Over the course of the first two seasons, Bloom has been active in trying to improve the club’s farm system and major league roster. Bloom has preached focusing on organization sustainability. This has come at the price of the CBO operating in a different manner than any other Red Sox front office executive in the past.
Bloom’s tenure with the Red Sox has seen Alex Cora and the club parting ways following the Astros cheating scandal. He would trade Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, the 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he traded Andrew Benintendi and also acquired Nick Pivetta from the Phillies. All of these trades were met with massive criticism.
Bloom has made over 185 moves between trades, waivers and free agency. The moves that Bloom has primarily made have been short-term signings and the financial commitment has been low. Up until Sunday with the Story signing, Kiké Hernández was handed out the biggest contract at two-years for $14 million.
Hernández has proven to be a successful signing due to his versatility in the field. However, he has also made copious amounts of wavier claims and has signed numerous players to minor league deals. This has allowed him to build organizational depth, something the Red Sox have lacked for a long time.
Despite all the moves and the fan backlash due to how he’s built the Red Sox, he has never wavered off his plan. Bloom and the Red Sox have been frequently called “Tampa Bay North” or the “Tampa Bay Red Sox” due to operating similar to how the low-budget the Rays operate.
While it can perceived as if Bloom hasn’t spent much money, he has worked tirelessly on building the Red Sox through draft and development, added depth at all positions and that depth has allowed him to trade for players like Kyle Schwarber.
Fans may not like how Bloom operates, but with the Story signing it should begin to signal that his front office is willing to spend money. The story signing has pushed the Red Sox payroll past the $230 million CBT threshold as of right now. The club could spend more and add to the roster, there is still a need for another outfielder.
The move provides depth in the event Xander Bogaerts leaves in free agency following this season. Bogaerts is expected to opt-out of his deal he signed back with Dombrowski a few years ago.
The Red Sox will have massive financial flexibility heading into 2023 with numerous contracts coming off the books. J.D. Martinez, Nathan Eovadli, Jackie Bradley Jr. and David Price’s $16 million contracts all expire at the end of the season.
Bloom can use that money to continue to shape the next phase of the Red Sox. Everyone can agree that his top priority is signing Rafael Devers to an extension and then figure out Bogaerts next deal. If he loses Bogaerts, he will have replaced him with Story and will have the money and the prospects to make a massive move.
The farm system has been replenished mightily with the additions of Marcelo Mayer, Downs, Alex Binelas, Roberto Hernandez, Josh Winckowski and Conor Seabold to name a few.
Bloom shocked Red Sox fans today and they might actually start thinking he’s doing more than bargain bin shopping. He can continue to operate and build his roster the way he see’s fit. Bloom has begun to change the fans mindset and perspective with one signing, in landing Story.
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