Cardinals, Chaim Bloom swing another trade with Red Sox, adding key pitching depth

Last offseason, Chaim Bloom's first running the show as the top front office executve in St. Louis, the Cardinals made a habit out of breaking bread with the Boston Red Sox. Bloom's former stomping grounds would soon become the home of Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray, returning a number of talented prospects -- mostly pitchers, including Hunter Dobbins, Richard Fitts, and Brandon Clarke -- to the Redbirds.

Well, it's just day two of the 2026-27 offseason, but Bloom is back at it again. He and Craig Breslow (the Red Sox's president of baseball operations) have agreed to a one-for-one swap, landing left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera in St. Louis and 18-year-old Juan Garcia in Boston.

Rivera, 23, was recently designated for assignment as a victim of somer 40-man roster math. He made his MLB debut this year with the Red Sox, recording a 4.20 FIP over four appearances, three of which were starts.

Eduardo Rivera's updated scouting report after Cardinals swipe him from Red Sox

Despite Bloom's connection to his old organization, he wasn't the one responsible for bringing Rivera to the Red Sox. That credit belongs to Breslow, who added the southpaw as a minor-league free agent after he was released by the Athletics in 2024.

The most notable thing about the 23-year-old is his size; he stands at a hulking 6'7", though he doesn't get the kind of elite extension you'd expect from a pitcher of that stature. You can be sure the Cardinals' pitching lab will work with him on that, as his ability to throw downhill from a 47° arm angle makes for some awkward plate appearances, even from advanced hitters.

Rivera put forth a really strong season in the minor leagues this year, split between Double-A and Triple-A. He didn't start much, but his 2.59 ERA and enormous 30% strikeout rate are strong evidence that he can make a living out of the bullpen. I'd expect the Cardinals to commit to moving him to relief on a full-time basis given their needs, especially since he's so good at getting hitters to swing at pitches outside the zone (and whiff on said offerings).

The primary work with Rivera will need to be on his command, which is hardly unusual for pitchers his size. He's rarely in the zone, which will need to change against major-league hitters who are better at laying off pitches on the corners. Even a slight dip in his 12.7% walk rate from the minors would go a long way toward helping his projectability.

In exchange, the Cardinals are surrendering Garcia, an 18-year-old who has pitched in the DSL over the past two years. He's got advanced feel for a pitcher his age, but he's a true lottery ticket that helps alleviate some of the crunch on the Red Sox's 40-man roster.

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