Willson Contreras Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 1" / 225 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 5/13/1992 (30)
- Experience
- 4
- College
- None
Willson Contreras Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Willson Contreras News
The St. Louis Cardinals and catcher Willson Contreras agreed to a five-year, $87.5 million deal on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the deal. There were reports earlier on Wednesday that the two sides were closing in on a deal, and now it's official as the Cardinals find their replacement for the retired Yadier Molina. Contreras was the top offensive catcher on the open market this offseason, and he'll give an already strong Cardinals lineup an added boost at the catcher position. The 30-year-old three-time All-Star hit .243/.349/.466 with an .815 OPS, 22 home runs, 55 RBI, 65 runs scored and four stolen bases in 113 games in 2022 with the Cubs. Contreras has a .256/.349/.459 slash line with an .808 OPS in seven big-league seasons. Moving to St. Louis will make him even more attractive as a high-end fantasy catcher.
The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly one of the favorites for free-agent catcher Willson Contreras, per a tweet from The New York Post's Jon Heyman on Tuesday. Contreras enjoyed a solid season for both the Chicago Cubs and fantasy managers alike this past season, hitting .243 with a .349 on-base percentage in 487 plate appearances over the course of 113 games. The veteran catcher also added 22 home runs, four stolen bases and 55 RBI on the season while adding a career-high 65 runs scored. As of now, St. Louis' two catching options on the 40-man roster are Ivan Herrera and Andrew Knizner.
Free-agent catcher Willson Contreras' most likely landing spots are the Houston Astros and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Miami Marlins have also checked in on him, but Contreras will be pricey as the top available catcher this offseason. Christian Vazquez may be Plan B for the Cardinals, and he, too, has a nice market this winter. As expected, Contreras declined the Chicago Cubs' $19.65 million qualifying offer in order to hit the open market after the 2022 season. The 30-year-old backstop hit .243/.349/.466 with 22 home runs, 55 RBI, 65 runs scored and four stolen bases in 416 at-bats this year and remains one of the best offensive-minded catchers in the game. A move to Houston or St. Louis will only make him more attractive in fantasy.
Batting Order
| 1 | Lars Nootbaar |
| 2 | Albert Pujols |
| 3 | Paul Goldschmidt |
| 4 | Nolan Arenado |
| 5 | Brendan Donovan |
| 6 | Juan Yepez |
| 7 | Corey Dickerson |
| 8 | Yadier Molina |
| 9 | Tommy Edman |
Willson Contreras Stats
Last 10 Games
Batting Order
| 1 | Lars Nootbaar |
| 2 | Albert Pujols |
| 3 | Paul Goldschmidt |
| 4 | Nolan Arenado |
| 5 | Brendan Donovan |
| 6 | Juan Yepez |
| 7 | Corey Dickerson |
| 8 | Yadier Molina |
| 9 | Tommy Edman |
Speculation was wide-ranging on where Willson Contreras would land this offseason as a free agent, and at the end of the day, the St. Louis Cardinals scooped him up on a five-year, $87.5 million deal. He should fit in well in his new digs on the heels of a career year at the plate in 2022. Contreras hit 22 home runs alongside a .224 ISO, .364 wOBA, and 132 wRC+ last season while ranking in the 90th percentile with a career-best 48.6% hard-hit rate, according to Baseball Savant. The 30-year-old's counting stats took a hit on a poor Chicago Cubs offense but projects for improvement on a Cardinals offense that tied for fifth in runs scored a season ago. Steamer pegs Contreras for 21 HRs, 75 runs, 66 RBI, and five stolen bases across 124 games played in 2023. Such production makes the former Cub one of the league's safest options at the catcher position, ranking sixth in our positional rankings and 107th overall, numbers right in line with his 96 ADP. Snatching the Venezuela native at or a few spots ahead of his current ADP is the prudent move in solidifying the catching position.
