By: Ginny Choe

On September 14, 2023, Chaim Bloom, the Red Sox’s Director of Baseball Operations, was fired. Many Boston fans agree with the Red Sox’s disappointment in Bloom, but are they right to be frustrated? Did Chaim Bloom really fail at his job?

When Bloom was hired in October 2019, he entered the franchise following four World Series championships in 15 years, yet the years of success from former General Manager Dave Dombrowski left the team a broken mess, their minor league system, where rising prospects further develop their skills, ranked last by Fangraphs. Emma Roffman ’27  said,“I think [he] did not do a good job managing [the team] because they came in last place for their division for three out of the four years.” Coach Bushman commented, “…pro sports is a big business. And when you aren’t winning, blame has to fall somewhere.” While Bloom’s tenure did not lead to immediate success, one of Bloom’s biggest tasks was to restock their minor league system, and he was exceedingly successful. 

The biggest achievement of Bloom’s career with the Red Sox was his draft picks. The prized prospects were Marcelo Mayer, ranked #11 in all of MLB, and Roman Anthony, ranked #35, in addition to two other prospects in the top 100. Bloom’s efforts ultimately resulted in the Red Sox’s minor league system’s jump to #3 out of 30 teams. Since all MLB players are under “team control” throughout their first six years in the majors, the biggest advantage for a competitive team is having a strong, young core of athletes to play for below-market rates due to MLB’s unique reserve clause system. If Mayer performs up to his expectations, they will have a huge structural advantage over opposing teams.

While improving the Red Sox’s minor league ranking, Bloom was also able to lead the Red Sox through two competitive seasons. Following the losing 2020 season, the 2021 team advanced all the way to the ALCS against the Houston Astros. Bloom organized the trades of notable players that greatly helped their postseason run, most recognizably Kyle Schwarber, a left fielder/first baseman who hit 3 HR in the postseason. During the 2023 season, the Red Sox had a legitimate postseason run, even having the third best run differential, a common statistic determining the effectiveness of a team, in the entire American League before the All-Star break.

While Bloom’s efforts may not have paid off for immediate results, his intellectual draft picks and trades resulted in the Red Sox minor league system’s improvement, leading to (hopefully) a better future centering around the Red Sox top prospects.