{"id":111113,"date":"2025-12-21T21:24:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T02:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=111113"},"modified":"2025-12-21T21:24:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T02:24:11","slug":"cardinals-trade-wilson-contreras-red-sox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/12\/21\/cardinals-trade-wilson-contreras-red-sox\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Red Sox Acquire Wilson Contreras from Cardinals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Boston Red Sox are one of two teams this offseason that have yet to sign a free agent. That does not mean they have done nothing this offseason. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/breslcr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-12-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Craig Breslow<\/a> has done his work in trades. Before Thanksgiving, he acquired starter <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/grayso01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-12-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sonny Gray<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the St. Louis Cardinals. Now, he makes another trade with Chaim Bloom, as the Red Sox are acquiring <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/contrwi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-12-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Willson Contreras<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and cash from the Cards, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_94440\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-94440\" style=\"width: 731px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-94440\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23981138_168403884_lowres-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"731\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23981138_168403884_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23981138_168403884_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23981138_168403884_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23981138_168403884_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23981138_168403884_lowres-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23981138_168403884_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/01\/USATSI_23981138_168403884_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-94440\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aug 12, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Willson Contreras (40) high fives teammates after scoring on a RBI single hit by third baseman Nolan Arenado (not pictured) in the third inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><b>Report: Red Sox Trade for Willson Contreras<\/b><\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BREAKING: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, sources tell ESPN.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JeffPassan\/status\/2002902911681171573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The veteran Contreras is entering his 11th season in the show, and has shown some decline in <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2022\/12\/07\/willson-contreras-cardinals\/\" target=\"_self\">recent seasons<\/a>. 2025 marked his first full season not catching, transitioning full-time to first base to keep him healthy. Contreras appeared in 135 games, slashing .257\/.344\/.447 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. His season featured several major milestones, including his 1,000th career game on June 5\u2014marked by a walk-off single\u2014and his 500th career RBI. His campaign ultimately ended a week early on September 17 due to a right shoulder strain, leaving him with a final 2.8 WAR and a team-leading .791 OPS for the season.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">423 Feet<br \/>\n107 MPH<\/p>\n<p>Willson Contreras hits it long gone! \ud83d\udca5 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vnRdisQJnd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/vnRdisQJnd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 MLB (@MLB) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLB\/status\/1958706391478133206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><b>Cardinals Return<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cardinals will receive starter <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=dobbihu01,dobbin001hun&amp;search=Hunter+Dobbins&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-12-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hunter Dobbins<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as part of the return from Boston. Dobbins made his MLB debut in 2025 and pitched well for the Red Sox in 11 starts, posting a 4.13 ERA. His season ended early due to a torn ACL in his right knee in July. The injury occurred in the second inning of a start against the Tampa Bay Rays while Dobbins was covering first base on a ground ball; he landed awkwardly on the bag and immediately recognized the sensation, as it was his second tear of the same ACL (the first occurring during high school football). Making the situation even more frustrating, Dobbins had just been activated from the injured list that very day after recovering from a minor elbow strain.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Hunter Dobbins tore his ACL on this play<\/p>\n<p>It was the second inning of his first start back from an elbow injury <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HcBN4J77qj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/HcBN4J77qj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Talkin&#8217; Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TalkinBaseball_\/status\/1944062457246355906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Red Sox are also sending two minor league pitchers \u2013<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> RHP <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=fajard000yho&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-12-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yhoiker Fajardo<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and RHP <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=aita--000bla&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-12-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Blake Aita<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0&#8212; to St. Louis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Full trade, per ESPN sources:<\/p>\n<p>Red Sox get: 1B Willson Contreras and $8 million to cover part of his remaining $41.5 million in salary<\/p>\n<p>Cardinals get: RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Yhoiker Fajardo and RHP Blake Aita<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JeffPassan\/status\/2002910072595456349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At just 18, Fajardo emerged as one of the most exciting young arms in the Red Sox system during the 2025 season. The right-hander began the year in the Florida Complex League before a promotion to Low-A Salem. Across both levels, Fajardo was dominant, posting a 2.25 ERA and a 1.097 WHIP over 72 innings pitched. He showcased elite swing-and-miss stuff with 83 strikeouts and a .215 opponent batting average.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 22-year-old Aita proved to be an &#8220;analytics darling&#8221; during a successful first full professional season in 2025. Splitting his time between Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville, the right-hander logged a heavy workload of 115 1\/3 innings over 23 appearances (19 starts). He finished the year with a 3.98 ERA and an impressive 1.049 WHIP, recording 99 strikeouts against just 30 walks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Red Sox are one of two teams this offseason that have yet to sign a free agent. That does not mean they have done nothing this offseason. Craig Breslow has done his work in trades. Before Thanksgiving, he acquired starter Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. Now, he makes another trade with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5663,"featured_media":76995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1071,35,25],"tags":[28251,650,1478],"class_list":["post-111113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-redsox","category-mlb","category-news","category-cardinals","tag-craig-breslow","tag-sonny-gray","tag-willson-contreras"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5663"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111113"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":111117,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111113\/revisions\/111117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}