The Red Sox aren’t waiting around this offseason. Less than a month after bringing in Sonny Gray, Boston has swung another bold deal, acquiring veteran first baseman Willson Contreras and $8 million in cash from the Cardinals.
Headed to St. Louis in return: right-handers Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita.
This is a significant move for Boston - not just because of Contreras’ name value, but because of what it signals about the club’s direction under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. With the Red Sox still reshaping their roster after a few up-and-down seasons, adding a veteran bat like Contreras helps stabilize a lineup that’s been in flux, especially at first base.
Let’s break it down.
The Deal Structure
Contreras had a full no-trade clause, so he had to sign off on the move - and he did, with a $1 million bonus negotiated into the deal to do so. The financials also got a slight rework.
He’ll now make $18 million in 2026, $17 million in 2027, and has a $20 million club option for 2028 with a $7.5 million buyout. That brings the total guaranteed money left on his deal to $42.5 million.
But with the Cardinals sending $8 million to Boston, the Red Sox are on the hook for $34.5 million in actual salary, with a luxury tax hit of $17.25 million.
It’s a manageable number for a player who, even at 33, still brings a lot to the table offensively.
Contreras’ Fit in Boston
Contreras is no longer a catcher - at least not in practice. While he was signed by St.
Louis in 2022 to take over for Yadier Molina behind the plate, the Cardinals gradually shifted him out of that role. By 2025, he was a full-time first baseman, a position he’d only dabbled in during his Cubs days.
But he held his own at the cold corner this past season, earning a +6 Outs Above Average grade, though Defensive Runs Saved had him at -1. In short: he’s not a Gold Glover, but he’s not a liability either.
And the bat still plays. Contreras hit .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs over 563 plate appearances in 2025 - good for a 124 wRC+.
That’s solid production from a right-handed hitter, especially one who helps balance a Boston lineup that leans heavily to the left. His walk rate dipped to a career-low 7.8%, and he’s always struck out more than you’d like, but the quality of contact remained strong.
He hits the ball hard and often.
Contreras’ arrival also reunites him with Breslow, who was part of the Cubs’ front office during the tail end of Contreras’ time in Chicago. That familiarity likely played a role in getting this deal over the finish line.
What This Means for Triston Casas
Here’s where things get interesting. With Contreras now penciled in at first base, the writing may be on the wall for Triston Casas. The former top prospect has already been floated in trade talks - even before his season-ending knee injury in May - and this move only fuels speculation that Boston could be ready to move on.
If the Red Sox can find a taker for Masataka Yoshida’s contract, there’s a scenario where Casas and Contreras could split time between first base and DH. But that’s a big “if.” More likely, Casas becomes a trade chip in Boston’s continued effort to add pitching or another impact bat.
What the Sox Gave Up
Hunter Dobbins is the most MLB-ready of the trio heading to St. Louis, though he won’t be on the Opening Day roster after tearing his ACL last July - his second ACL tear, on top of a previous Tommy John surgery.
When healthy, Dobbins made his big league debut in 2025 and posted a 4.13 ERA over 61 innings. He’s more of a ground-ball guy than a strikeout artist, but his slider and curveball have solid whiff rates, and he sits around 95.5 mph with the fastball.
Yhoiker Fajardo, still just 19, has already been traded twice. After signing with the White Sox in 2024, he was sent to Boston in the Cam Booser trade and now heads to the Cardinals.
In 2025, he posted a 2.25 ERA with a 28.8% strikeout rate across rookie ball and A-ball. MLB Pipeline had him ranked 23rd in Boston’s system and sees him as a potential mid-rotation starter.
Blake Aita was a sixth-round pick in 2024 and put together a solid first pro season - 3.98 ERA across 115 1/3 innings between Low-A and High-A. He’s got a five-pitch mix, though he rarely throws the slider, and his fastball sits in the low 90s with good movement. He’s more of a developmental arm, but there’s some upside there.
The Bigger Picture in Boston
This is just the latest move in what’s been a busy stretch for Breslow. In addition to landing Gray and Contreras, he also pulled off a blockbuster in June that sent Rafael Devers to the Giants - a move partly driven by Devers’ reluctance to move to first base after Casas went down.
Boston has been aggressive in reshaping its roster, and first base was clearly a position they wanted to upgrade. They’d been linked to names like Pete Alonso, Isaac Paredes, Kazuma Okamoto, and even Bryce Eldridge. Contreras might not have been the flashiest name on the board, but he brings veteran leadership, playoff experience, and a consistent bat - all things this Red Sox team needs.
And with the team still reportedly in on big infield names like Bo Bichette or Alex Bregman, it’s clear Boston isn’t done yet. Contreras’ salary won’t prevent them from making another splash, especially if they can move an outfielder - something that’s been rumored for weeks as the Sox look to add more pitching.
The Cardinals’ Side of the Deal
For St. Louis, this is part of a broader strategy under new baseball ops head Chaim Bloom.
After a disappointing 78-84 season, the Cardinals are finally leaning into a rebuild they flirted with last winter. Contreras and Gray are both gone, and Nolan Arenado - who blocked a trade to Houston last year - could be next, though his contract and down year in 2025 complicate things.
Trading Contreras clears significant salary, and gives Alec Burleson a clearer path to everyday reps at first base. Meanwhile, Dobbins and Fitts (from the Gray deal) could slot into the rotation as early as 2026. Fajardo and Aita add more depth to a pitching pipeline that’s being rebuilt from the ground up.
Bloom, of course, is familiar with Dobbins from his time in Boston, and it’s no surprise he targeted a pitcher he helped bring into the organization. While Dobbins doesn’t fit the mold of the veteran innings-eater Bloom reportedly wants to add, he’s a longer-term play - and that’s the theme of this Cardinals offseason.
Final Thoughts
This trade checks a lot of boxes for both clubs. The Red Sox get a proven bat at a position of need and keep their top-tier prospects intact. The Cardinals continue their reset, shedding salary and adding young arms with upside.
Contreras may not be the same player who helped the Cubs win a title in 2016, but he still brings plenty to the table. And in Boston, with a fresh start and a clear role, he could be exactly what the Red Sox need as they aim to climb back into contention.