BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today announced the acquisition of first baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals, along with cash considerations, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins and minor league right-handers Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo.
Contreras, 33, owns a career .258 average (954-for-3,700) with an .811 OPS, 208 doubles, 172 home runs, and 548 RBI across 1,078 Major League games with the Chicago Cubs (2016–22) and Cardinals (2023–25). A three-time National League All-Star (2018, 2019, 2022) and a 2016 World Series champion with Chicago, the Venezuela native has logged 709 career starts at catcher, 136 as designated hitter, 123 at first base, 24 in left field, and one in right field. Since the start of 2023, he ranks ninth among right-handed hitters (min. 1,000 PA) in on-base percentage (.358) and 13th in OPS (.817).
In 2025, Contreras hit .257 (126-for-490) with 31 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs, and 80 RBI for St. Louis, making 119 starts at first base and 15 as the designated hitter. Originally signed by the Cubs as an international free agent in December 2009, he was honored as the 2023 J.G. Taylor Spink Baseball Man of the Year by the St. Louis chapter of the BBWAA.
Dobbins, 26, debuted for Boston in 2025, going 4–1 with a 4.13 ERA (28 ER/61.0 IP) in 13 appearances (11 starts). He was placed on the Injured List on July 12 with a right ACL tear and missed the remainder of the season. Selected in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, the Texas native also posted a 5.09 ERA (10 ER/17.2 IP) across four minor league outings with Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland.
Aita, 22, made his professional debut in 2025, recording a 3.98 ERA (51 ER/115.1 IP) in 23 games (19 starts) between Single-A Salem and High-A Greenville. The Tennessee native was selected by Boston in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Fajardo, 19, ranked as the Red Sox’ No. 9 prospect by Baseball America, delivered a standout 2025 season with a 2.25 ERA (18 ER/72.0 IP) and 83 strikeouts in 19 games (17 starts) between the Florida Complex League Red Sox and Single-A Salem. The Venezuela native originally signed with the Chicago White Sox in February 2024 and was acquired by Boston on December 21, 2024, in exchange for left-hander Cam Booser.
