Report: Red Sox land Contreras in 4-player trade with Cardinals
The Boston Red Sox are acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals for right-hander Hunter Dobbins and pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The Red Sox are also getting $8 million to help cover Contreras' salary, reports MassLive's Chris Cotillo.
Contreras, 33, waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the move.
The three-time All-Star is still owed $36.5 million over two years with a $5-million buyout on a 2028 club option worth $17.5 million. He signed a five-year, $87.5-million contract with St. Louis in December 2022.
Contreras hit 20 homers with 80 RBIs and a .791 OPS over 135 games in 2025.
Dobbins, 26, authored a 4.13 ERA with a 3.87 FIP and 6.6 K/9 over 61 innings (11 starts) during his rookie season in 2025.
The 18-year-old Fajardo posted a 2.25 ERA with 10.4 K/9 in 72 innings between Single-A and rookie ball this year.
Aita, 22, recorded a 3.98 ERA with 99 strikeouts over 115 1/3 innings in Single-A this past season.
The Red Sox also acquired right-hander Sonny Gray from the Cardinals in a separate big trade in late November.