After missing out on Pete Alonso, the Red Sox needed a first baseman. The Cardinals needed a place to send their veteran first baseman as they attempt to rebuild their farm system.
Sure, Chaim Bloom helped build the current Red Sox prospect base during his time in Boston, thus leading to a familiarity that would seem to portend a healthy trade environment. But it also should be said: These two teams’ needs did line up.
1. Trading for Contreras makes a lot more sense than signing Alonso
Some Red Sox fans were a little bummed when they missed out on Alonso, who would have solved their first-base issue for years to come and, of course, would have provided a whole bunch of thump. But considering the price the Orioles paid for him — not just the money, but the years — you can make a strong argument that the Red Sox are in fact better off with Contreras. As my colleague Mike Petriello noted, in total value, Conteras has been essentially the same player as Alonso, hitting for less power but getting on base more and playing much better defense at first base.
Contreras played first regularly for the first time in 2025 and was surprisingly good at it, putting up above average numbers at the position according to almost every metric. Contreras, when you account for the money the Cardinals threw in, will cost $28.5 million for the next two years. Compare that to the $155 million Alonso is going to cost over the next five years, you can absolutely understand what the Red Sox were thinking.
2. Red Sox fans are going to love him
Contreras has the sort of pull swing that will fit perfectly at Fenway Park, but honestly, that’s only part of the reason he looks like a guy who will be popular among Red Sox fans. Contreras, famously, is a fiery player — he has been ejected nine times in his career and got a six-game suspension after one of them last year. While that might be annoying if you’re a fan of the team he’s playing against, if he’s playing for your team, his furious desire to win at any cost will right up your alley. Contreras is beloved by teammates and was broadly popular in St. Louis despite the team’s struggles when he was there. Red Sox fans, you’re going to be behind this guy from the get-go.
3. The Sox still have work to do
As nice as the Contreras addition is, there is still plenty left on the winter agenda for the Red Sox. Contreras has power, but he’s not a classic slugger, and the Red Sox do still need power. How they go about getting it is the big question, but theoretically, by trading for Contreras and getting some money back, this shouldn’t stand in the way of their spending.
While they’re at it, they should still be in for some of those starting pitchers, as well. Sonny Gray is a nice addition, but at this stage of his career, he might be a better fit as a No. 3 rather than a No. 2. Contreras fits where the Red Sox are at, but there’s no reason to bring him in for the next two years if he’s the only guy you’re bringing in for the next two years.
4. Contreras deserves to be remembered fondly by Cardinals fans
Some Cardinals fans were skeptical when the Cardinals signed Contreras before the 2023 season. He was, after all, a member of the hated Cubs and a player the Cardinals had had some real dustups with throughout the last half decade of the rivalry. Contreras got off to a rough start that season too, culminating in him being pulled from behind the plate reportedly because of complaints from some Cardinals starters who had perhaps gotten too used to throwing to Yadier Molina all those years. (Eventually he returned to the catching position, in time to have his arm broken by a swing before ultimately being moved to first base.)
Contreras never once complained about any of this, and in fact just went about doing what he did: Hitting and trying to win. The Cardinals didn’t have the success they or Contreras expected when they signed him, but that is absolutely no fault of his. The deal, from the Cardinals perspective, is absolutely a success.
5. The trade clears up some Cardinals positional issues … but there are more moves to come
Clearing out Contreras opens up a slot for Alec Burleson, an adequate but unspectacular outfielder, to move to first base, though it’s possible the long term plan is to put slugging catcher (well, catcher for now) Iván Herrera there. There’s still a logjam in the infield, though, with Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan blocking Nolan Gorman and J.J. Wetherholt, respectively.
Trading those two, of course, has been atop Bloom’s to-do list all winter, and this trade is a sign that the brush is still being cleared in St. Louis. Trading Donovan will of course be much easier — and will bring back a much larger return — but neither makes sense to be around St. Louis much longer. There is still a lot more dealing to be done in St. Louis this winter.
