Red Sox Trading for Willson Contreras
Former Chicago Cub Willson Contreras is being traded to the Boston Red Sox, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Chris Cotillo of MassLive adds that the Cardinals will receive Hunter Dobbins, while the Red Sox will also acquire cash along with Contreras.
BREAKING: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2025
Red Sox traded Hunter Dobbins plus others to the Cardinals for Contreras, sources say.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 22, 2025
The Red Sox need offensive help following Alex Bregman’s potential departure and have chosen to address it via trade. Contreras is set to earn $18 million this season, so the amount of cash sent to Boston will be something to monitor. If that figure is minimal, Bregman is likely out of the picture unless the team unexpectedly increases its budget.
Update:
The full trade package is out, with Dobbins being the main piece headed back to St. Louis.
Trade summary, per @Ken_Rosenthal:
Red Sox get – Willson Contreras
Cardinals get – Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, Blake Aita— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) December 22, 2025
Cotillo has reported that the Cardinals will be sending $8 million to Boston, paying just under 25% of Contreras’s remaining salary. It seems as if the Red Sox are not out on Ketel Marte or Bregman after this move, but neither feels as necessary.
