The Red Sox are acquiring Willson Contreras from the Cardinals for three players, including right-hander Hunter Dobbins, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The clubs have not confirmed the deal, which required Contreras to waive a no-trade clause.
Right-hander Yhoiker Fajardo (who was the No. 23-ranked prospect in the Cardinals’ system) and right-hander Blake Aita are also headed to St. Louis and Boston will receive $8 million in the trade.
This is the second trade new Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has made with his former team. Last month, the Cardinals also sent right-hander Sonny Gray to Boston.
The Cardinals signed Contreras, now 33, to a five-year, $87.5 million free-agent contract before the 2023 season to serve as the heir to nine-time Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina. However, early in his tenure in St. Louis, the Cardinals had issues with his game calling and used him primarily as a DH instead of behind the plate.
Just as Contreras started to show major improvements behind the plate in 2024, he suffered a fractured left forearm when he was hit by the bat of J.D. Martinez, causing him to miss six weeks. In hopes of keeping him in the lineup more often, the Cardinals moved Contreras to first base in 2025 – and he surprised many by playing well there. He was tied for fourth in MLB in Outs Above Average (plus-6) in 2025 at his new position.
Though he never made an All-Star team as a Cardinal, Contreras has been the feared presence in the lineup that the club hoped for. He smashed 20 home runs and a career-best 31 doubles in 2025, and in three seasons with the Redbirds he has slashed .261/.338/.459/.817 with 55 home runs and 183 RBIs.
