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