The Boston Red Sox have reportedly landed Willson Contreras
The Red Sox made a move to acquire Contreras in a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. In exchange, right-hander Hunter Dobbins is headed to the Cardinals along with minor-league pitchers Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. The Red Sox will also receive $8 million from the Cardinals to cover part of Contreras’ remaining salary.
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Dobbins, whom the Red Sox selected in the 2021 MLB Draft, made his debut this past spring. He went 4-1 in 11 starts on the mound and carried a 4.13 ERA. The former Texas Tech standout missed the second half of the season due to a torn ACL but is expected to be ready by Opening Day.
Contreras spent the past three years with the Cardinals, and he transitioned to first base in 2025 after spending the first stretch of his career largely at catcher. The three-time All-Star held a .257 batting average with 80 RBI and a team-high 20 home runs last season, his 10th in the league.
Contreras has two years left on the five-year, $87.5 million deal he signed ahead of the 2023 campaign, and he’s owed $18 million next season. He holds a club option for the 2028 season with a $5 million buyout.
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His deal included a full no-trade clause, and Contreras initially seemed committed to the Cardinals’ rebuild after the team went 78-84 last season and missed the playoffs for a third straight year. But now, Contreras will join a Red Sox team fresh off its first playoff appearance since 2021. Boston went 89-73 last season and lost in the wild-card round to the New York Yankees.
The Contreras trade is the second between the Red Sox and Cardinals this offseason, following a deal that sent pitcher Sonny Gray to Boston. Gray also waived a no-trade clause to join the Red Sox.