Willson Contreras Fantasy Stats

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora views first baseman Willson Contreras as the cleanup hitter for the 2026 season, according to Christopher Smith of Mass Live. If Contreras does indeed become the BoSox's cleanup hitter this year after being acquired in a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, the 33-year-old former catcher will have plenty of RBI opportunities, even if the team was unable to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman. Outfielder Jarren Duran, shortstop Trevor Story, and outfielder Roman Anthony should hit in the top three spots to help set the table for Contreras. The three-time All-Star had an OPS under .800 for the first time in four seasons in 2025, but he also produced career highs in RBI (80), doubles (31), and runs scored (70) with more playing time (135 games) at first base. There will be plenty of RBI opportunities in the cleanup spot, but Contreras is more of an average fantasy first baseman without a high-end power profile.

The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins and right-handed pitching prospects Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for veteran first baseman Willson Contreras, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. As part of the deal, St. Louis will cover $8 million of the $41.5 million remaining on Contreras' contract. The Cardinals are in rebuild mode and did not see Contreras as their first baseman of the future. Dobbins, 26, logged a 4.13 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 45 strikeouts over 61 innings during the 2025 season before suffering a torn ACL in his right knee while attempting to cover first base. He has since begun a throwing program and is expected to be ready for spring training, where he'll compete for a rotation spot. Aita, 22, spent last season between Single-A and High-A Greenville, posting a 3.98 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 14.9% K-BB rate across 115 1/3 innings. He is expected to remain in the minors next season. Fajardo, the youngest of the trio at 19, recorded a 2.81 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 28.8% strikeout rate over 51 1/3 innings last season. Although Fajardo is a few years away from being called up to the majors, his strikeout ability gives him the highest ceiling among the three pitchers.

The Boston Red Sox are acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. In return, the Cardinals will receive right-hander Hunter Dobbins along with right-handed pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. According to Passan, the Red Sox will be responsible for $33.5 million of the $41.5 owed to Contreras. Boston had previously pursued Pete Alonso and was rumored to be in on a few other sluggers, but the club now appears to have found its first baseman. Contreras is coming off a season in which he hit 20 home runs while slashing .257/.344/.447 across 563 plate appearances. With the Cardinals in the middle of a rebuild, the organization did not view Contreras as part of its long-term future. The 33-year-old former catcher is expected to take over for Triston Casas at first base, who struggled to a .580 OPS in 112 plate appearances last season. Casas is often hurt and has missed significant time over the years. Overall, this move is a net positive for Contreras' fantasy value, as he joins a more potent offensive lineup in a substantially better hitting environment.

Mass Live's Chris Cotillo writes that the Boston Red Sox could be pursuing a trade for St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras, according to a source. The Red Sox continue to look for upgrades to their offense after missing out on sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso this week. Boston is one of many teams interested in Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, too, but St. Louis might not move him. Contreras, a three-time All-Star, is believed to be available with two years and $41 million (plus a 2028 option) left on his deal. He has full no-trade protection, but the 33-year-old veteran might be open to waiving it for the right situation. Acquiring Contreras would give the BoSox a steady right-handed bat while also providing insurance at first base with Triston Casas coming back from knee surgery. Contreras had career-highs in RBI (80), doubles (31), and runs (70) after moving to first base full time in 2025.

The Athletic's Katie Woo reports that St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras is open to trade offers this offseason and has "become more willing to waive his full no-trade clause." Woo goes on to explain that it won't necessarily change the Cardinals' order of operations, but they are "open to shopping Contreras." The top priority of the winter will be to trade veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado and one of their left-handed hitters. Outfielder Lars Nootbaar and infielder Brendan Donovan continue to receive interest from other clubs. Contreras handled himself very well defensively in his first season as a full-time first baseman, and although his plate discipline isn't anything special, his elite bat speed allows him to do plenty of damage as a hitter. The 33-year-old is owed $41.5 million over the next two years (with a team option for a third season). Teams such as the Padres, Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Pirates could be interested in landing Contreras.

The St. Louis Cardinals have placed first baseman Willson Contreras (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list with a strained right shoulder, retroactive to Sept. 16. The team recalled infielder Jose Fermin from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move. Contreras exited a loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday with what was believed to be a biceps injury, but it turns out his shoulder will send him to the IL and keep him out for the rest of the season. The 33-year-old former catcher amassed 563 plate appearances in 2025 and slashed an above-average .257/.344/.447 with 20 homers, 80 RBI, 70 runs scored, and five stolen bases. With Contreras out of commission, Alec Burleson should get the majority of playing time at first base for the remainder of the Cardinals' season, which will leave the corner outfield to Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (biceps) is out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds after he was pulled from Monday's series opener at Busch Stadium with tightness in his right biceps. Alec Burleson is taking over at first base and will bat cleanup for the Cards against Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott. Contreras is considered day-to-day right now and could return to action as early as Wednesday. He was hit by multiple pitches on Saturday and received the day off on Sunday due to general soreness, so he's a little beat up right now towards the end of the season. Burleson will be one to fade for DFS lineups against the southpaw on Tuesday. He's hit only three of his 17 home runs against lefties this year and is hitless in nine career at-bats against Abbott. Burleson has also gone 6-for-29 (.207) with eight K's in seven games so far in September.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (biceps) exited Monday's 11-6 loss to the Reds early with right-biceps tightness, per St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold. Contreras went 2-for-3 with a single, a double, an RBI, and a stolen base before being pinch-hit for by Nolan Gorman in the seventh inning. The 33-year-old was checked by team doctors for soreness/discomfort before the game and drew the start at first base. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more news before Tuesday's game. Contreras is having another productive offensive season, slashing .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs, 80 RBI, and five stolen bases in 563 plate appearances.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (soreness) is starting at first base and is batting cleanup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Zack Littell at Busch Stadium. Contreras was hit by two pitches in Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers and got the series finale off on Sunday due to general soreness. He's back in the lineup on Monday, though, against a pitcher he's gone 1-for-4 against in his career. The 33-year-old Venezuelan will hope to keep it up in September, as he's gone 7-for-24 so far in the month with a triple, five RBI, and three runs scored in seven games. The three-time All-Star and former catcher has reached the 20-homer mark in 2025 for the sixth time in his 10 MLB seasons and has also driven in a career-high 79 runs in 134 games in his third year in St. Louis.

Per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, it sounds as though St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras' six-game suspension has been reduced to four games. Contreras will begin serving his four-game suspension on Friday night and will not be available for the series opener versus the visiting San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium. He will not be eligible to return to the field until the second game of the series next Tuesday in Seattle against the Mariners. The 33-year-old veteran was tossed out of a game on Aug. 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates when he tossed his bat, which ended up hitting the home-plate umpire. Alec Burleson (wrist) is currently on the injured list, so it's possible we'll see Nolan Gorman shift to first base, with Cesar Prieto or Jose Fermin starting at third this weekend.