4 Red Sox connections that could join the Cardinals if Chaim Bloom takes over

1. Alex Cora

Because the Cardinals are playing well right now, Oli Marmol has briefly been taken off the chopping block. He's done a much better job this season and still has the trust of the clubhouse. But if the Cardinals regress again and ultimately miss the playoffs, some changes could be considered, and another managerial option could emerge.

Depending on what happens with the Red Sox, Alex Cora, who led them to a title in 2018 could become available, and personally, I would love to see him manage the Cardinals. He actually briefly spent time in the organization in 2012 when they signed him to a minor league deal, so it's not like he doesn't have any Cardinals ties.

Of course, this won't and shouldn't be considered if the Cardinals make the playoffs and have a deep run. But Cora is another guy who would instantly have the respect of the clubhouse. He's also truly a player's manager, and in some ways reminds me of Mike Shildt. But I don't think this is out of the realm of possibility, especially if the Cardinals remain stuck in the middle.

2. J.D. Martinez

This offseason, the Cardinals are going to have to address their offense, and in all likelihood, Paul Goldschmidt will not be back. This means that somebody like Alec Burleson, Brendan Donovan, or Jordan Walker will take over at first base. But they'll need an extra right-handed bat to compensate for the imminent loss of Goldschmidt.

This is where J.D. Martinez comes into play. He's got power and would serve exclusively as a designated hitter. Also, because he is late in his career, he likely won't be given a deal for more than two years. He's somebody I wanted the Cardinals to target after the 2022 season when they lost Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

Now, they have a chance of adding a slugger to their mix that will almost certainly give them the offensive boost they need to score more runs in 2025. He served as Boston's DH from 2018-22 and was on hand for Bloom's first few years at the helm, so it's always possible that Bloom could recruit him to St. Louis if he takes over for Mozeliak.

3. Nathan Eovaldi

As has been the case for the past several years, the Cardinals will need to address their rotation as well. Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn will be free agents, and whatever starter they pick up this year at the deadline likely won't be more than a rental.

Nathan Eovaldi is unlikely to hit his vesting option for the 2025 season with the Rangers. He was a postseason hero for the Red Sox back in 2018 and he also played in Boston while Bloom was chief baseball officer. The Cardinals have Sonny Gray as their ace, but they're going to need a second top-tier starter in order to compete for a World Series title. Eovaldi will likely be a free agent, and it would make sense for Bloom to target him in the offseason.

The right-hander also played a key role in getting the Rangers to the Fall Classic last year, and he won the clinching Game 5 in Arizona to give the Rangers their first World Series title. He's an innings eater, a high-strikeout guy, and a proven postseason pitcher who would give the Cardinals a chance to compete for the World Series.

4. Tyler O'Neill

O'Neill obviously doesn't have any connections with Bloom, as he didn't join the Red Sox until after Bloom was dismissed. But O'Neill obviously has a ton of connections here in St. Louis, having been a Cardinal from 2018-23.

I am aware that O'Neill's time in St. Louis was marred by injuries, but he appears to have rediscovered his stroke in Boston, and if you want to get cynical, he's just the latest former Cardinals outfielder to be traded for almost nothing and go off with a new organization. He is somebody that the Cardinals could bring back on a one or two-year deal and have start in left field, which would allow them to move Donovan to first base to replace Goldschmidt.

Because he's bouncing back from several injury-plagued seasons, he shouldn't be too expensive for the Cardinals, and he could bolster the lineup if he continues on this path. What we're seeing from him this year is more like what we saw from him when he put it all together in 2021 and became a force in the middle of the lineup.

You would have to consider that he and Oli Marmol didn't always see eye-to-eye, but at this point, that's water under the bridge.