Red Sox Acquire Willson Contreras in Trade with Cardinals, Signaling Contention Push
The Boston Red Sox have significantly bolstered their offense, acquiring veteran slugger Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade announced Thursday. The move, reported by ESPN and The Athletic, marks the second substantial deal between the two franchises this offseason, following Boston’s acquisition of Sonny Gray last month.
The Cardinals will receive right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins, along with minor-league pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita in return. Similar to the Gray deal, Contreras will receive an additional $1 million in guaranteed money after waiving his no-trade clause, according to the Boston Globe. He is under contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028, representing a total financial commitment of $42.5 million, of which the Cardinals will cover $8 million, as reported by MassLive.
Initially hesitant to leave St. Louis despite the team’s ongoing rebuild, Contreras ultimately approved the trade to join a Red Sox team poised to compete in 2026, a sentiment that swayed his decision. “He saw an opportunity to win sooner rather than later,” a senior official stated.
The acquisition addresses a key need for Boston, adding a potent right-handed bat to the middle of the order. Contreras, who transitioned to first base and designated hitter for the Cardinals in 2025, is expected to fill a similar role with the Red Sox. His above-average pulled fly ball rate also makes him a particularly good fit for Fenway Park.
Contreras arrives in Boston coming off a productive 2025 season, posting a 123 OPS+ and a 2.5 WAR in 135 games. He continues to demonstrate strong offensive capabilities, backed by impressive batted-ball metrics. Throughout his 10-year MLB career, the three-time All-Star boasts an OPS+ of 118 and a cumulative WAR of 29.2, averaging 26 home runs and 31 doubles per 162 games played. Defensively, he proved reliable in his first season as a primary first baseman.
The trade does present some financial considerations for the Red Sox. It pushes the team’s payroll to a similar level as last year, potentially requiring Boston to either increase payroll further or shed existing contracts to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman.
Dobbins, 26, recorded a 4.13 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 61 innings during his rookie season in 2025 before a knee injury cut his year short. He is expected to be fully recovered in time for spring training. Fajardo, ranked as the No. 23 prospect in Boston’s system by MLB Pipeline, is considered a potential mid-rotation starter, while Aita remains an unranked prospect. Both Fajardo and Aita pitched at the Single-A level in 2025.
The Red Sox finished the 2025 season with an 87-73 record, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2021. However, their playoff run was short-lived, as they were eliminated by the New York Yankees in the Wild Card Series. This latest acquisition signals a clear intent to build upon that progress and contend for a deeper playoff run in the coming years.
