What To Expect From Red Sox Latest Addition Willson Contreras
The Boston Red Sox are yet to make a major free agent acquisition, but they’ve been active in the trade market. On Sunday, they reportedly acquired Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Hunter Dobbins and two prospects.
Contreras, 33, hit .257 with 20 home runs in 2025, good for a 124 wRC+. That number was the 42nd best among qualified hitters. The Red Sox were in need of a strong right-handed hitter. Contreras should help in that department.
While he hits from the right side, he doesn’t need to be platooned. He posted a stellar .863 OPS against left-handed pitching, but his offense against right-handed pitching wasn’t far behind. He hit 15 home runs against righties with a .767 OPS.
Another area where the Red Sox would like to improve is plate discipline. Their 22.9% strikeout rate was the 10th highest in baseball last season and contributed to prolonged offensive slumps. Contreras strikes out a fair amount — 25.2% in 2025, 24.2% for his career. His chase rate of around 30% is high as well, but he’s shown the ability to work counts and draw walks.
Additionally, his offensive profile should fit well in Fenway Park. His pulled fly ball rate of 19.8% was the highest of his career and well above the MLB average. Pulled fly balls from the right side returned a 1.077 weighted on-base average in Fenway, the highest mark of any stadium in baseball. The Red Sox’s newest addition should enjoy the benefits of the Green Monster frequently.
Defensively, Contreras made the switch from catcher to first baseman in 2025. He played 120 games at first and served as the designated hitter for another 15. Despite a lack of experience at the position, his six outs above average placed him in the 91st percentile. Contreras will continue to play first base, while filling in at designated hitter and potentially catching in a pinch.
The Red Sox still need more offense. Alex Bregman remains unsigned, as does Eugenio Suarez. Kazuma Okamoto is also an option — his window to sign with a major league club closes on January 4.