Red Sox acquire Willson Contreras in trade with Cardinals, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports, citing sources

A former Chicago Cubs three-time All-Star and World Series champion is on the move again.

This time, he’s leaving the National League altogether.

Citing sources, ESPN Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan reported Monday the Boston Red Sox have acquired first baseman Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. In exchange, Boston sent right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins and pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita to St. Louis, Passan reports, again citing sources.

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The move for Contreras, now 33, adds a veteran right-handed bat with power to Boston’s lineup as the Red Sox try to compete in the tough American League East, while the Cardinals add some young arms as they try to rebuild into a contender.

Passan also points out that acquiring Dobbins, an MLB-ready starter, could help the Cardinals compensate for the loss of veteran starter Sonny Gray, also traded to the Red Sox earlier this offseason.

Contreras came up with the Cubs as a catcher and was also occasionally used as a designated hitter over his seven seasons with the Cubs from 2016-22.

He signed with the NL Central rival Cardinals in free agency following the 2022 season. After staying as a catcher/designated hitter in his first two seasons with St. Louis, the Cardinals moved Contreras to first base in 2025.

Contreras played 120 games at first base last season, along with 15 as designated hitter, and was not behind the plate at all. He hit a career-high 31 homers.

Over 10 big-league seasons, Contreras has belted 172 homers, driven in 549 runs and has an OPS of .811. With his disciplined plate approach, power and glove, he certainly adds a big boost to Boston’s lineup.

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Contreras made his MLB debut in 2016 and immediately became a key contributor in the Cubs’ run to their first World Series title in 108 years that season. In 17 postseason games, he hit one homer, drove in five runs and had an OPS of .710.

Contreras went on to earn back-to-back NL All-Star nods with the Cubs in 2018 and 2019 and again in 2022.

His younger brother is William Contreras, an All-Star catcher with the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Red Sox acquire Willson Contreras in trade with Cardinals, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports, citing sources

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