After coming up empty at the Winter Meetings, Boston Red Sox Chief of Baseball Operations Craig Breslow is back in Boston looking to add for the 2026 season.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles have all gotten better this offseason. Toronto has added Dylan Cease from the San Diego Padres. The Orioles landed Pete Alonso in free agency over the Red Sox.
So far, Boston has acquired Sonny Gray in a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals in November and Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates for the starting rotation. Those are not going to move the needle this offseason much for Boston fans.
There are a lot of needs, Breslow and the Red Sox have. One of them is finding a first baseman who supplies power and defense. Alonso would have supplied the power, but his defense leaves a lot to be desired at times. Chris Cotillo of MassLive has linked Boston to an All-Star first baseman in a potential trade.
Boston Red Sox Reportedly Interested in Cardinals Willson Contreras
Cardinals second baseman Brandon Donovan has received a lot of trade interest this offseason. So has Willson Contreras and Cotillo reported that Boston is inquiring about the former catcher.
“The Red Sox are one of many teams interested in Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, but St. Louis still might hold onto him,” wrote Cotillo.
“A new name has also surfaced for the Red Sox, who, according to a source, are pursuing Donovan’s teammate, Willson Contreras, in trade talks. He has a full no-trade clause but might be willing to waive it for the right fit,” Cotillo also wrote.
Contreras played 120 games at first base while hitting 20 home runs and driving in 80 runs, and he slashed .257/.344/.447 for St. Louis. he had a career-high 31 doubles. According to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, Contreras is someone on teams’ radar.
“There are teams that like [Contreras] as a first baseman. I’m not necessarily sure the Mets are going to acquire him as their replacement for Pete Alonso, but you think about any team that was out there pursuing Pete, certainly Contreras is a potential alternative at that position on a relatively affordable contract,” Morosi said.
Red Sox Could Pivot to Willson Contreras Through Trade Market
Contreras has two years and $41 million remaining on his contract with a club option for 2028. He would also need to waive his no-trade clause, but Cotillo reported that he might be willing to use it for the right fit. You would think Boston would be one of those clubs. St. Louis is looking to make some roster shakeups this offseason.
Alonso was the player that Boston wanted to land in Orlando at the Winter Meetings. Instead, he went to the Orioles, which is even worse, with it being an American League East team. Baltimore might not be done adding either.
Kyle Schwarber was a dream for the Red Sox before re-signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. Boston and Breslow are still missing the middle-of-the-order bat they need. Contreras could fill that void; it’s just a matter of what Breslow and the front office have up their sleeve. Right now, it appears that they have nothing, but they need something soon.
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