The Boston Red Sox have traded for veteran slugger Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals, bolstering their lineup for the upcoming season. In exchange, the Cardinals receive right-hander Hunter Dobbins and two minor-league pitchers, Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita, along with $8 million from Boston. This deal marks the second significant transaction between the teams this offseason.
The trade, reported by ESPN and confirmed by multiple sources, required Contreras to waive his no-trade clause, for which he receives an additional $1 million in guaranteed money. Contreras, a three-time All-Star entering his age-34 season, is under contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028, leaving $42.5 million on his deal; the Cardinals will cover $8 million of that amount. Initially reluctant to leave St. Louis amid their rebuild, Contreras approved the move to a contending Red Sox team.
Contreras, who transitioned from catcher to first base and designated hitter for the Cardinals in 2025, posted a strong .257/.344/.447 slash line with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs in 135 games, earning a 123 OPS+ and 2.5 WAR. Defensively, he ranked tied for fourth in MLB with plus-6 Outs Above Average at first base. Over his career spanning parts of 10 seasons, he has an 118 OPS+ and 29.2 WAR, averaging 26 home runs and 31 doubles per 162 games.
For Boston, who finished 87-73 in 2025 and lost to the New York Yankees in the Wild Card Series, Contreras provides a reliable middle-of-the-order right-handed bat suited to Fenway Park. The deal, however, pushes their payroll back to last year's level, potentially complicating efforts to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman.
The Cardinals, who ended 2025 at 78-84 and last in the NL Central, continue their rebuild under president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. This follows last month's trade sending Sonny Gray to Boston for two young pitchers. Heading to St. Louis, Dobbins, 26, recorded a 4.13 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 61 innings during his rookie year, despite a July knee injury. Fajardo, ranked as Boston's No. 23 prospect and a potential mid-rotation starter, and unranked Aita both pitched in Single-A last season.