Published on December 22, 2025 2:07 pm
Last Updated on December 22, 2025 2:07 pm
BY IAN BROWN
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s lengthy search for a bat landed him a solid right-handed-hitting veteran first baseman in Willson Contreras and cash in a trade with the Cardinals on Monday.
Boston sent over a package of young pitchers, led by righty Hunter Dobbins, who had a solid first stint in the Majors (13 appearances, 11 starts) in ’25, in which he went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA before a torn right ACL ended his season. In addition, righty prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita are headed to St. Louis.
TRADE DETAILS
Red Sox get: 1B Willson Contreras, cash
Cardinals get: RHPs Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo (was Boston’s No. 23 prospect in MLB Pipeline rankings) and Blake Aita
A source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that the Cardinals are sending $8 million to the Red Sox to help cover the balance of the $82.5 million deal Contreras signed with St. Louis prior to the 2023 season.