The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals have been active trade partners this offseason. The new top-ranking exec in the Cardinals‘ front office, Chaim Bloom, used to be the Red Sox president of baseball operations. As St. Louis is preparing for a rebuild in 2026, Bloom has already pulled off two trades with his new MLB organization.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Boston Red Sox acquired first baseman Willson Contreras from the Cardinals in exchange for starter Hunter Dobbins and two right-handed pitching prospects.
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Willson Contreras is a Red Sox; Contract Details
The Red Sox get the big infield acquisition they have been looking for this offseason. Boston now has a big decision to make with free agent Alex Bregman. This could be good news for some other suitors that have been linked to Bregman (Blue Jays, Tigers).
As for what this trade means for Boston, it is a huge pickup, as the Red Sox have been searching for a first baseman ever since Triston Casas went down with a season-ending injury early in 2025.
HeavyWillson Contreras is coming to Boston
Willson Contreras has played in 10 MLB seasons and has 20+ home runs in six of those years. He signed a five-year, $87 million contract before the 2023 season and hit 55 home runs with the Cardinals over 344 total games.
Before being with the Cardinals, Contreras spent seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, so this move marks the first time the 33-year-old will play on a team not from the NL Central.
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Hunter Dobbins is the Arm Boston Gives Up
Hunter Dobbins is the arm that Boston ends up giving up in this trade. After trading for Sonny Gray nearly a month ago, the Red Sox now have a true surplus of starters, so consider this an ‘A’ trade because Craig Breslow and company were able to flip a young starter for a tenured veteran power bat.
Dobbins made his MLB debut in 2025 and ended up making 11 starts. Over  61 innings, he posted a 4.13 ERA and struck out 45 batters.
It will be interesting to see how engaged Boston continues to be in trade talks across MLB, but specifically with the Cardinals. Does this make the Red Sox favorites to land Nolan Arenado if Bloom decides to empty house and Boston can’t retain Bregman?
Or does this accelerate the trade rumors surrounding the Boston outfielders, and they could flip either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu for a durable starter?
MLB’s hot stove season is really starting to get going, and both the Red Sox and Cardinals are interesting players in the offseason frenzy to improve going into 2026.
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