Chaim Bloom

Bloom is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is Jewish and keeps kosher.Dan Shulman. [https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/25/what-you-need-know-about-chaim-bloom-red-sox-new-baseball-ops-boss/LXhpmMkn0mUD5fCNSDlRaJ/story.html "What you need to know about Chaim Bloom, the Red Sox new baseball ops boss,"] The Boston Globe.{{cite web|last=Doherty |first=Matthew |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2019/10/26/5-things-to-know-about-new-red-sox-chief-of-baseball-operations-chaim-bloom |title=5 things to know about new Red Sox chief of baseball operations Chaim Bloom |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2019-10-27}} His father Benjamin Bloom is an ophthalmologist, and his mother Esther Stern-Bloom is a retired Hebrew and French teacher.{{cite web|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/282617/chaim-bloom-tampa-bay-rays|author=Yair Rosenberg |title=Chaim Bloom's Diamond Life|work=Tablet Magazine|date=2019-04-02 |access-date=2019-10-28}}[https://www.jewishexponent.com/2019/11/22/akiba-grad-chaim-bloom-takes-top-job-with-red-sox/ "Akiba Grad Chaim Bloom Takes Top Job With Red Sox"] He attended Jewish day schools, first at Solomon Schechter Day School of Philadelphia (now known as Perelman Jewish Day School), and then at Akiba Hebrew Academy (now known as Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy) in Greater Philadelphia, graduating in 2000.[https://www.jbha.org/about-us/beyond-barrack/alumni-spotlight "Alumni Spotlight,"] Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy. In 2004, Bloom received a bachelor's degree in Latin Classics from Yale College, where he was a member of The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus.{{cite web|url=https://vaaju.com/5-things-to-know-about-new-red-sox-head-of-baseball-operations-chaim-bloom/ |title=5 Things To Know About New Red Sox Head Of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom |publisher=Vaaju.com |access-date=2019-10-26}}

Bloom's first entry into the baseball world was an article in Baseball Prospectus in 1997, and he continued writing for it until he joined the Rays.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1324296/2019/10/25/5-things-to-know-about-red-sox-gm-target-chaim-bloom/|title=5 things to know about Red Sox target Chaim Bloom|last=McCaffrey|first=Jen|website=The Athletic|url-access=limited |access-date=2019-10-26}} Prior to joining the Rays, he was a baseball operations intern for the San Diego Padres and a legal/corporate partnerships intern for Major League Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/tb/team/exe_bios/bloom_chaim.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420064734/http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/tb/team/exe_bios/bloom_chaim.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 20, 2015 |title=Rays Executives |publisher=Tampabay.rays.mlb.com |date=2016-11-04 |access-date=2019-10-27}}

Bloom began working for the Tampa Bay Rays in February 2005 as an intern, was hired by the Rays full-time to work in Minor League Operations in October 2005. He was promoted to assistant director of Minor League Operations in 2008, with responsibility for all aspects of the team's minor league system, including player evaluation and assignments, expansion of video, strength and conditioning, and mental skills initiatives, creating of the "Rays Way" player development manual, and executing individual development plans for organization's prospects.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/rays/team/front-office/chaim-bloom |title=Chaim Bloom - Vice President of Baseball Operations | Tampa Bay Rays |work=Mlb.com |access-date=2019-10-27}}{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2019/10/who-is-chaim-bloom-likely-new-red-sox-gm-is-36-year-old-rays-vp-with-player-development-experience.html|title=Who is Chaim Bloom? Likely new Red Sox GM is 36-year-old Rays VP with player development experience|first=Chris|last=Cotillo|date=October 25, 2019|website=masslive}} He was named Director of Baseball Operations in 2011, expanding his job to include contract negotiations, salary arbitration, budgeting, and overseeing major league support staff and international scouting. In 2014, when general manager Andrew Friedman left the Rays organization, the Rays promoted Bloom to Vice President of Baseball Operations.{{cite web|last=Chastain |first=Bill |url=https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-promote-chaim-bloom-erik-neander-to-vp-baseball-operations/c-98856134 |title=Rays promote Chaim Bloom, Erik Neander to VP, baseball operations | Tampa Bay Rays |work=Mlb.com |date=October 17, 2014 |access-date=October 22, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/11718374/tampa-bay-rays-promote-chaim-bloom-erik-neander-vice-president|title=Rays promote Bloom, Neander to VP status|date=October 17, 2014|publisher=ESPN}} 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. He was named Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations in 2016, second in command behind President of Baseball Operations Matthew Silverman.{{cite web|last=Gartland |first=Dan |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/10/25/chaim-bloom-red-sox-general-manager |title=Chaim Bloom: Red Sox to hire Rays exec as head of baseball ops |work=Sports Illustrated |access-date=2019-10-27}}

Despite a low Tampa Bay payroll, Bloom consistently fielded competitive teams. The franchise had been one of the most innovative under his management; he integrated analytics into all aspects of the game. He was an early user of breakthrough strategies, now more widely used, such as a much heavier emphasis on shifts and the use of openers (starting games with relief pitchers). Bloom is also known for his prowess in developing starting pitchers. He wrote the "Rays Way" player development handbook in 2008; and during his tenure with the Rays sportswriter Tom Verducci opined that "no franchise understands better how to identify, develop and maintain quality pitchers."{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/heres-why-chaim-bloom-has-emerged-frontrunner-red-sox-gm-search|author=John Tomase|title=Tomase: Bloom is Sox only GM candidate|date=2019-10-24|website=NBC Sports Boston|access-date=2019-10-25}}{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2013/04/01/106303863/the-rays-way|title=THE RAYS WAY|last=Verducci|first=Tom|website=Vault|language=en|access-date=2019-10-26}}

In 2015, Bloom interviewed for the general manager position with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers; in 2016 with the Minnesota Twins, and 2018 with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets; Bloom was a finalist for the Mets' position.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1325582/2019/10/26/rosenthal-pitching-concerns-for-the-astros-how-the-nationals-got-soto-bloom-and-the-red-sox-more-notes/|title=Rosenthal: Pitching concerns for the Astros; how the Nationals got Soto; Bloom and the Red Sox; more notes|last=Rosenthal|first=Ken|website=The Athletic|url-access=limited |access-date=2019-10-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2018/10/22/ny-mets-gm-search-down-doug-melvin-chaim-bloom-brodie-van-wagenen/1729836002/|author= Matt Ehalt|title=NY Mets GM search down to Doug Melvin, Chaim Bloom, Brodie Van Wagenen |publisher=Northjersey.com |access-date=October 22, 2018}} In 2019, he interviewed for the Boston Red Sox' head of baseball operations position.{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2019/10/red-sox-gm-search-rays-vp-chaim-bloom-has-interviewed-is-a-serious-candidate-reports.html|title=Red Sox GM search: Rays VP Chaim Bloom frontrunner to become Boston's new top executive (reports)|first=Chris|last=Cotillo|date=October 25, 2019|website=masslive}}

On October 25, 2019, the Red Sox hired the 36-year-old Bloom as Chief Baseball Officer, succeeding Dave Dombrowski as head of their baseball operations, with Brian O'Halloran to be named general manager and reporting to him.{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2019/10/chaim-bloom-will-be-boston-red-soxs-chief-baseball-officer-brian-ohalloran-will-reportedly-become-gm.html |title=Chaim Bloom will be Boston Red Sox's chief baseball officer; Brian O'Halloran will reportedly become GM |website=masslive.com |first=Chris |last=Cotillo |date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=October 25, 2019}} The Red Sox made an official announcement on October 28, an off-day of the 2019 World Series.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/28/chaim-bloom-red-sox-chief-baseball-officer-press-conference/iw6jKEqAvNk5Dgd0KXw5tK/story.html |title=Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom: The goal is 'sustained long-term success' |first=Katie |last=McInerney |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=October 28, 2019 |access-date=October 28, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/quick-reads/chaim-bloom-will-join-boston-red-sox-as-head-of-baseball-operations|title=Boston Red Sox hire Sabbath-observant Chaim Bloom as head of baseball operations|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-31}} In 2019, Bloom's Tampa Bay team had the lowest payroll on opening day at $49 million, while Dombrowski's Boston had the highest at $187 million. Bloom's Rays were 96–66 and made the playoffs, while the Dombrowski-led Red Sox were 84–78 and did not make the playoffs.[https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27923015/rays-chaim-bloom-favorite-become-red-sox-general-manager "Rays' Chaim Bloom favorite to become Red Sox general manager,"] ESPN.[https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2019/10/boston-red-sox-hire-chaim-bloom-as-their-new-head-of-baseball-operations-report.html "Boston Red Sox hire Chaim Bloom as their new head of baseball operations (report),"] masslive. Since the Red Sox were trying to reduce salary and get under the luxury tax threshold for the 2020 season and in the future, Bloom was hired because of his experience at managing a low payroll on the Rays.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/25/red-sox-hire-rays-executive-chaim-bloom-run-baseball-operations-department/|title=Red Sox to hire Rays' executive Chaim Bloom to run baseball operations|date=October 25, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-access=limited}}

Bloom's first season with Boston was the start-delayed and shortened {{mlby|2020}} season; the Red Sox had a record of 24–36 and finished in last place in the American League East. Bloom subsequently hired Alex Cora to return as the team's manager after fulfilling his suspension, announced in November 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/what-chaim-bloom-had-say-about-red-sox-hiring-alex-cora-manager |title=Red Sox GM offers forthcoming statement on Alex Cora hire |first=Darren |last=Hartwell |website=NBC Sports |date=November 6, 2020 |accessdate=May 4, 2021}} While the 2021 Red Sox reached the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox play declined and their standing in the AL East diminished. They also saw popular and productive players Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts leave the team during Bloom's tenure; he was fired by the team on September 14, 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/09/14/sports/chaim-bloom-fired-red-sox/ |title=Red Sox fire chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom after disappointing four-season tenure |first=Peter |last=Abraham |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=September 14, 2023 |accessdate=September 14, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-14 |title=Red Sox fire exec Bloom after almost 4 seasons |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38399439/red-sox-fire-chief-baseball-officer-chaim-bloom-almost-4-seasons |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The Red Sox had a record of 267–262 during his time as Chief Baseball Officer.

After the 2023 season, the St. Louis Cardinals hired Bloom as an advisor to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.{{cite news |last1=Denton |first1=John |title=Cardinals hire Chaim Bloom as advisor to Mozeliak |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-hire-chaim-bloom |access-date=January 9, 2024 |publisher=MLB.com |date=January 8, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Passan |first1=Jeff |title=St. Louis Cardinals add to front office, hire Chaim Bloom |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39267364/st-louis-cardinals-add-front-office-hire-chaim-bloom |access-date=January 9, 2024 |date=January 8, 2024}}

On September 30, 2024, the Cardinals announced that Bloom would succeed Mozeliak as the team’s president of baseball operations following the 2025 season.https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mlb/cardinals/chaim-bloom-will-take-over-as-cardinals-president-of-baseball-operations-after-2025/article_19f5cd68-7f45-11ef-95d5-db5f705734ae.html The Cardinals and Bloom signed a five-year deal.[the Cardinals also declared that Bloom, 41, had signed a five-year deal "Bloom to take over as Cardinals president of baseball ops in '26,"] MLB.com.

Bloom and his wife, Aliza (née Hochman), met at Yale, where she earned a B.A. in economics and international studies.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobalist.com/contributors/aliza-hochman/ |title=Aliza Hochman |work=The Globalist |date=2019-04-14 |access-date=2019-10-27}} They have two sons, Isaiah and Judah. The family lived in St. Petersburg, Florida, close to Tropicana Field, in part so he could easily return on Friday nights to celebrate the Sabbath with his family.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/rays/team/front-office/chaim-bloom |title=Chaim Bloom - Vice President of Baseball Operations | Tampa Bay Rays |work=Mlb.com |access-date=2019-10-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/quick-reads/chaim-bloom-will-join-boston-red-sox-as-head-of-baseball-operations |title=Chaim Bloom will join Boston Red Sox as head of baseball operations |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |access-date=2019-10-27}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bloom, Chaim}}

Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy alumni

Category:Boston Red Sox executives

Category:Jewish American baseball people

Category:Sportspeople from Philadelphia

Category:Sportspeople from St. Petersburg, Florida

Category:Tampa Bay Rays executives

Category:Yale College alumni

Category:Jewish American sports executives and administrators

Category:21st-century American Jews