Red Sox trade for Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras...

After multiple trades to add starting pitching this offseason, the Red Sox made their first move to add a bat on Sunday. According to major league sources, the Sox have agreed to acquire first baseman Willson Contreras from the Cardinals. Righthander Hunter Dobbins will be part of the package going to St. Louis in return. Contreras gives the Red Sox a first baseman who combines patience and power in the middle of the order. He hit .257/.344/.447 with 20 homers in 135 games for St. Louis in 2025, a performance in line with his career line of .258/.352/.459 over 10 seasons in the big leagues. He’s been particularly impactful against lefthanders, hitting .276/.375/.488 in 2025 and .272/.366/.505 in his career. Though a three-time All-Star catcher who signed a five-year, $87.5 million deal with St. Louis after the 2022 season, Contreras moved to first base full time in 2025. He’s played just eight games at Fenway — with his most memorable contribution coming when he baited Kenley Jansen into a pitch clock violation in 2023.