The Baltimore Orioles have made plenty of moves this offseason, but the division-rival Boston Red Sox have thrown their hat in the ring too. The latter club acquired first baseman Willson Contreras and cash from the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, per MLB.com.
In return, the Red Sox gave the Cardinals right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins as well as right-handed pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA over 13 appearances as a rookie last season, while Fajardo was Boston’s No. 23-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline.
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Contreras notched a .791 OPS with 20 homers and 80 RBIs over 135 games in 2025. The 33-year-old has a career .811 OPS and has 20-plus homers in four of his last five seasons.
Contreras strengthens Boston’s lineup during a time when star third baseman Alex Bregman is still on the open market after recording an .821 OPS in 114 games for the club last season. Additionally, fellow first baseman Triston Casas is still rehabbing from a knee injury and could begin 2026 in Triple-A, per The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey.
Even if Bregman leaves, the Red Sox still have outfielder Jarren Duran (.774 OPS in 2025), shortstop Trevor Story (.741 OPS), and 21-year-old stud outfielder Roman Anthony (.859 OPS). They made the AL Wild Card Round while the Orioles finished in last place in the AL East in 2025.
How will this move affect the AL East power dynamic?
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2). © John Jones-Imagn Images
The Contreras trade is a reminder of how difficult the AL East will be to win in 2026. The Orioles have improved on paper by acquiring superstar first baseman Pete Alonso, veteran outfielder Taylor Ward and pitching help, but they might be in baseball’s best divison.
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The Toronto Blue Jays could lose shortstop Bo Bichette after reaching Game 7 of the World Series, but they’ll keep the majority of the roster that led them there. The New York Yankees could lose outfielder Cody Bellinger, but they haven’t missed the playoffs since 2023 and are getting ace pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) back healthy next season.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays haven’t made the playoffs since 2023, but they have talented hitters like third baseman Junior Caminero (45 homers in 2025), and first baseman Yandy Diaz (.848 OPS). Finally, the Red Sox can’t be counted out, as they still have superstar pitcher Garrett Crochet (2.59 ERA) in addition to the aforementioned position players.
Baltimore is primed for a bounce-back campaign, but it would behoove the front office to remain aggressive this offseason given this landscape.