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 Chaim Bloom, as the Red Sox are acquiring Willson Contreras and cash from the Cards, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Report: Red Sox Trade for Willson 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
The veteran Contreras is entering his 11th season in the show, and has shown some decline in recent seasons. 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—marked by a walk-off single—and 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.
423 Feet
107 MPHWillson Contreras hits it long gone!
pic.twitter.com/vnRdisQJnd
— MLB (@MLB) August 22, 2025
Cardinals Return
The Cardinals will receive starter Hunter Dobbins 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.
Hunter Dobbins tore his ACL on this play
It was the second inning of his first start back from an elbow injury pic.twitter.com/HcBN4J77qj
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 12, 2025
The Red Sox are also sending two minor league pitchers – RHP Yhoiker Fajardo and RHP Blake Aita — to St. Louis.
Full trade, per ESPN sources:
Red Sox get: 1B Willson Contreras and $8 million to cover part of his remaining $41.5 million in salary
Cardinals get: RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Yhoiker Fajardo and RHP Blake Aita
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2025
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.
The 22-year-old Aita proved to be an “analytics darling” 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.
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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