In what could already be a busy offseason for the St. Louis Cardinals, you can add another name to potential departures.
Sources tell The Athletic’s Katie Woo that first baseman Willson Contreras is open to waiving his full no-trade clause for the right situation.
Contreras, 33, has two years remaining on a five-year, $87.5 million deal. The contract includes a club option for 2028 that comes with a $5 million buyout.
A native of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Contreras made the move from catcher to first base in 2025. He batted .257 in 135 games with 126 hits, 20 home runs, a career-high 80 runs batted in and an OPS of .791.
But Woo cautions that new Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom does not view Contreras as a must-deal asset and could choose to hold on to the three-time All-Star as the season begins and re-explore the trade market as the deadline approaches this summer.
The Cards are expected to once again attempt to move veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has two years and $31 million in real money remaining on his eight-year deal. Like Contreras, the 35-year-old Arenado has a full no-trade clause, which was an impediment to a potential trade last offseason.
Among the other players the team could look to trade include utilityman Brendan Donovan, outfielder Lars Nootbaar and infielder Nolan Gorman.
The Cardinals made their first trade of the offseason last week when veteran starter Sonny Gray was shipped to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitchers Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke.