St. Louis’ new amateur scouting leadership has plenty on its plate.
The 2026 MLB Draft is shaping up to be a major moment for the Cardinals. Chaim Bloom made a bold move in the club’s rebuilding process by sending All-Star utility player Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team deal that also involved the Tampa Bay Rays. In return, St. Louis landed highly regarded pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje, along with outfielders Tai Peete and Colton Ledbetter. However, the most significant long-term impact may come from the draft selections the Cardinals secured the 68th overall pick from Seattle and the 72nd overall pick from Tampa Bay.
Those additions dramatically boosted St. Louis’ draft position.
Six top-100 picks now in Cardinals’ hands
Because MLB rules prohibit trading standard draft picks, only Competitive Balance selections can change teams. These picks are given to smaller-market or lower-revenue clubs and can be included in trades once assigned.
The Cardinals qualified for revenue sharing this year, earning a Competitive Balance Round A pick (32nd overall). The Donovan trade added two Competitive Balance Round B picks (68th and 72nd overall). Altogether, St. Louis now controls six of the first 100 selections in 2026: No. 13, 32, 50, 68, 72, and 86.
For a team in transition, that kind of draft capital is extremely valuable. The organization also recently promoted Zach Mortimer to director of amateur acquisitions, putting him in charge of draft strategy as Randy Flores shifts focus to the pro scouting side.
This stockpile marks a sharp contrast from recent years. In both 2023 and 2024, the Cardinals forfeited second-round picks after signing Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray and didn’t hold any Competitive Balance selections. As a result, they had only two top-100 picks in each of those drafts.
While St. Louis already boasts a solid farm system, this influx of early selections provides more opportunities to deepen the talent pool and potentially build one of baseball’s premier minor league systems especially when combined with the prospects acquired through recent trades.
Bloom’s draft track record offers additional optimism. During his tenure in Boston, he helped bring in high-end talent like Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel in the first round, but also found major value later, selecting Roman Anthony 79th overall and Kristian Campbell 132nd.
Big bonus pool adds even more flexibility
Another key factor: the Cardinals hold the second-largest draft bonus pool for 2026, totaling $16.9 million. That financial leverage allows them to be aggressive, target higher-upside players, and sign talent that might otherwise be difficult to secure.
Losing Donovan is painful, but it reflects the tough choices required during a rebuild. Bloom is reshaping the roster and farm system after inheriting a challenging situation. While the short term may be rocky, the long-term strategy aims to restore the Cardinals as contenders.
Between the prospects and draft capital gained plus several other offseason additions St. Louis’ revamped player development system will be tested. The road ahead could include growing pains, but the foundation for a brighter future is being laid.
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