Willson Contreras’ five-year, $87.5MM contract with the Cardinals included a full no-trade clause for the first four seasons, and Contreras indicated after last season that he wasn’t willing to consent to a deal. The first baseman has slightly changed his stance now, telling reporters (including MLB.com’s Jeff Jones) that still wants to remain in St. Louis, but is willing to consider waiving his no-trade protection.
“If something comes up to [president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom] that makes a lot of sense for him and the organization, and it makes sense for me and my future, how about we talk about that?” Contreras said. “But as of right now, I would just like to be part of the [rebuilding] process.”
Contreras noted that he isn’t requesting a trade, and already shared his thoughts about staying with the club in a meeting with Bloom on Friday. “I’d like to be a part of a young team that needs to have some kind of experience around them. That’s what I expressed, but I understand the part of the business of the team, and we just came to an agreement there,” the first baseman said.
We’ve already seen Sonny Gray and Nolan Arenado each indicate that they’d be more open to waiving their own no-trade protection this winter, in the wake of the incoming Cardinals rebuild. Gray is under contract just through the 2026 season but at the hefty price tag of $40MM ($35MM in backloaded salary and at least $5MM in a buyout of a club option for 2027). Arenado is owed $42MM through the 2027 season, though that number is reduced by deferred money and $5MM from the Rockies as per the terms of the trade that sent Arenado from Colorado to St. Louis.
Contreras is just finishing the third season of his five-year deal, and he is owed $41.5MM in remaining salary — $18MM in 2026, $18.5MM in 2027, and there is a $5MM buyout of a $17.5MM club option for 2028. Of these three pricey St. Louis veterans, Contreras brings less of a one-off luxury tax hit than Gray, and he has been a much more effective hitter than Arenado over the last three seasons.
A right shoulder strain ended Contreras’ 2025 season earlier in September, so his season numbers stand at 20 homers and a .257/.344/.447 slash line across 563 plate appearances. Contreras’ time with the Cardinals has been largely defined by the team’s downturn in performance and the defensive questions that led to his move from catcher to first base, but the veteran has continued to hit — he has batted .261/.358/.459 over 1416 PA in a Cardinals uniform, which translates to a 129 wRC+.
Those numbers play better from the catcher position than at first base, so hypothetically, a trade suitor might have interest in shifting Contreras back into at least a part-time role behind the plate. Given the lack of catching depth around the league, a team might also have more interest in taking on more of Contreras’ salary if he is being deployed to fill a larger hole at catcher than at first base.
As Jones observes, trading Contreras would allow the Cardinals to find more playing time for multiple players on the roster. Alec Burleson would likely take over most of the time at first base, which in turns opens up at-bats at DH and in the outfield for others.
That said, Contreras ultimately has the final word due to his contract. His full no-trade protection only lasts through 2026, as Contreras can then submit a no-trade list of 10 teams. The Cardinals could conceivably stick with Contreras through the coming season and then perhaps look more seriously at trade talks next winter, when the team will have slightly more freedom in working out a deal with at least 19 teams.
Even if Contreras has left the door slightly ajar to a trade, he made it clear that he is happy in St. Louis and would embrace the idea of helping mentor a new generation of Cardinals.
“I understand that it might take three to five years to have a playoff team or a team that can contend to the World Series, and I said even if I don’t make it there, and you guys make it to a World Series, I feel like I can be proud of that, just because I want to help young guys to better develop and have a better idea of what baseball is besides going to analyze stats,” Contreras said.
What’s the market for a catcher playing 1st base, a 3rd baseman on the decline and a 3rd starter making ace money? The rebuild needs to clear these issues before it can be called a true rebuild. I don’t think you rebuild trading a cheap controllable Donovan or selling low on a Gorman and Walker.
They’d have better luck copying the Braves business model; pick up high ceiling guys off waiver wires than hoping for any sort of value from this lot. If they want anything at all in return, it’ll come at the trade deadline
I imagine the market for Gray is better than the markets for both Arenado and Contreras. The Cards are paying down salary for all three if they are traded but Gray could bring the better return
Unlike the other two, Contreras is being paid fair market value! He easily has the most trade value based on his salary and performance, and the Cardinals would have no need to eat any of the money in an unlikely trade.
They might not have to eat money, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they do. Trade him to one of the cheaper teams that thinks they’ll contend the next 2 years to get a better return.
The Cardinals just wouldn’t accept any trade offer that would require them to eat money. It’s not like they’re looking to trade him in the first place.
If a team wants Contreras enough, they’ll have to pay his whole salary AND provide enough of a return in players to where the Cardinals would be willing to move him
You are basically saying that Contreras is going nowhere. Makes sense.
The problem with Contreras is that his on-field value, even as just a hitter, is severely hampered by his tendency to cause drama wherever he goes. That’s why the Cubs had a difficult time trading him, and why it was so surprising he landed his current deal from the Cardinals.
The Cardinals and most fans care very little about such drama. That so-called drama when the Cardinals considered moving him to the OF in 2024 and then changed their minds a week later wasn’t caused by Contreras in the first place.
I’m not talking about that kind of drama. Although it was kind of entertaining, watching an entire pitching staff say they didn’t want him to be their catcher. I’m mostly talking about the drama that he causes by being a hothead that takes everything personally, starts fights, and causes distractions.
You’re greatly exaggerating, and again, hardly anyone cares.
@Four4fore
Catchers will be mostly obsolete in a few years as the bench coach is now calling pitches as is being done in Miami right now. Just need a warm body that can throw to 2nd base.
That won’t change the value of a catcher
No way catcher’s become obsolete, just because of robo-umps and one team deciding to call pitches from the bench. I suspect that one team calling pitches from the bench has more to do with the confidence they have in their catcher than a trend that other teams will follow.
@Jean Matrac
With analytics, this is only going to get more advanced. Teams are looking at how batters perform in each count against each pitch and determining the best option then. Having someone with the data on-hand is better than expecting the catcher to remember it all in every situation.
Old York, No matter how advanced analytics get it still comes down to humans being able to execute. Pitchers and catchers have a special relationship. They work together, both before the game in how they want to work each batter, and then in the game agreeing on the pitch.
And teams want the two to work together well. What they don’t want to see is the pitcher constantly shaking off the pitch, wanting to throw something else. And it’s always been the pitchers decision, because they want the pitcher to be fully committed to the pitch. How is the pitcher going to feel about shaking off on a call from the bench? And does the bench want the pitcher throwing a pitch that he might not want to throw?
Rather than being the start of a trend, what they’re doing in Miami might be a regrettable experiment, not to be copied.
@Old York: there are mitigating factors with Miami. One, it is a young team. Two, Agustin Ramirez is maybe the worst defensive catcher in the league. Per statcast, he’s dead last in blocking and throwing, his pop time is in 28th percentile. He is very much a work in progress so the Marlins are taking pitch calling out of his hands. I wouldn’t look at this as the start of a trend.
John McGraw was known to call pitches in some games. It’s not new or a fad.
Sell low on Gorman.
Sell low on Walker.
Sell low on Arenado.
Sell or extend Gray.
Herrera, Burlson, Wetherholt, Winn all keepers.
It just baffles me how Mozeliak can sign Contreas to this five year contract and then a short time later realize Contreas isn’t a very good defensive catcher.
Shouldn’t that have been discovered during researching him? That is a head scratcher imo.
Remember Mauer? Signed a huge deal to be a catcher and 2 seasons in was a first baseman. It can happen quick.
He was also a batting champion.
Gorman – stupid
Walker – stupid
Arenado – yes
Gray – extending would be stupid, hes old
Why would you even mention Wetherholt? Insane.
If they’re going for a full rebuild, then trading Donovan also makes sense. Maybe they hold onto him for arb2 so he builds up additional value until the ’26 trade deadline in exchange for two near MLB-ready players.
Depends on what he is (and willing to be) going forward. He has 41.5M guaranteed left (not inc. 18.5M team option), but also going to be 34 y/o, coming off his worst def season (dWAR) ever in his first season at 1B. Sure, there’s a learning curve there, but maybe Wash was right about 1B. That being said, for teams seriously looking at no C depth on the horizon and even thought about trading for Sean Murphy (hip) who is 3 years younger with 45M guaranteed left…this could be a slightly cheaper (albeit, riskier) alternative that could be less risky if you have some DH ABs and a C prospect on the rise.
You sound like Billy Haywood
They still haven’t said they’re actually rebuilding. Yeah, they’re probably looking at another transition year, but they’re going to need guys like Contreras and Donovan to compete in 2027, especially if they can extend Donovan. They may even pick up Contreras’s 2028 option.
Lanidrac, The Cards haven’t actually said it, but Contreras obviously believes they are.
And he has been talking to Chaim Bloom, who just may have a pretty good read on this question.
Rebuilds always consist of getting lottery tickets back that you hope you can mostly hit on for the next wave.
@Landriac You’re telling me the cardinals are gonna need to rely on a 35 year old Wilson Contreras to compete?
I just read where Contreras said the rebuild will probably take 3 to 5 years. Those words most likely came from bloom and not Contreras. I’m a huge fan but I realize they are rebuilding. Any fan who thinks otherwise is not paying attention. And as fans shouldn’t we want the team to eventually be better and not slightly below average or average. They have treaded water by being slightly above average to slightly below when they should have blown it up. None of the past 4 seasons were they serious contenders nor did ownership spend on resources that would have made them such. I want to see the kids play and not overpriced average veterans. Lets get some players hungry to win on the team, build up a young core and hope ownership eventually gets off their rear ends and spends(hopefully wisely).
@Dolla Bill As good as he still is now, yes, a 35-year-old Contreras will probably still be a decent player.
Sounds like Bloom is getting some possible relief to get his program started. That’s very interesting stances taken by the 3 Mouseketeers suddenly. Be interesting winter for sure as every team probably would like to lose as much bad money as possible before the CBA ends.
I don’t recall there being any Nate Burleson on the Cardinals
I think they meant Alec.
You guessed it…Frank Stallone.
A total inability to understand the big picture is a big reason Contreras couldn’t cut it as a catcher.
Another in a long line of veterans, including Arenado and Gray, who don’t want to play in front of the so-called ‘best fans in baseball’. Guess those no trade clauses don’t mean much when the franchise is at a low point.
They saw a team they thought could compete. They had no idea the team wouldn’t keep adding after signing/trading for them.
You badly misread the article. Contreras clearly said he still wants to stay. He’s just a little more open to a trade if that’s what Bloom wants to do.
Do you understand that these statements are often scripted status quo statements? This is exactly what he should have said, so in the event no trade materializes hes not vilified by fans.
Possibly, but you have no evidence to back that up. As far as anyone knows right now, Contreras does want to stay.
And as far as you know it was a status quo statement. The fact that he now will wave his NTC is evidence in itself.
He’s gonna be 34, if the team is rebuilding it makes sense for him to go somewhere that’s not.
No trade clauses mean you can block a trade, i.e., not go to a situation you deem less favorable/desirable. If you were on the Dodgers or Yankees, would you want to be traded to the White Sox so your former team could round out its chances at a title? But if your team is going to suck for the next few years and you might get traded to a team with playoff hopes, now it might be desirable to leave. Really not sure what’s hard to understand about this. Both parties in a contract can be expected to use clauses in it to their best advantage. Putting in a no-trade clause doesn’t mean you never want to be traded.
There are other reasons as well. It isn’t always about not want to go to an a team, or city. Guys that have partial NTCs will put the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and other big market teams with big budgets on their list. Then they’ll have the power to agree to waive the NTC in exchange for an option being picked up, a bonus, or an increase in their salary.
No one wants to play for Oliver Cromwell.
There’s a fire burning in St. Louis fueled by NTC clauses.
Great job Mo!
Not really. Arenado is the only NTC that sucks. No one will complaint about having gray and Contreras back next season.
Maybe, but if Gray and Arenado are willing to waive theirs, the bigger issue, particularly in Arenado’s case, is the remaining salary. A couple players might use it as leverage to squeeze out just a little more money, but even then, it’s better for them to go to teams aiming for the playoffs. I don’t think the NTC’s will be that big a deal.
The NTCs were a big deal last year. And yes players on LAD or NYY might waive a NTC. If they are in final year or so of contract and relegated to a platoon or bench role, there is a strong likelihood they would waive NTC to get playing time and try and lengthen career.
I’d like to see all three punish the Cardinals for handing out no trade clauses like Halloween candy.
Arenado and Gray see their chances of getting a ring ending. They will waive.
It’s not really punishment getting stuck with a good pitcher and a good hitter. Arenado is the only one who doesn’t really have a place on the team.
Del Griffith, What you say is true, but it also delays the restructuring that they apparently want to do. And this would be a 2nd year of delay since they wanted to move these guys last season.
Maybe. They also have a ton of cap space, so it’s not like they can’t improve other parts of the team. Improve the rotation, get a reliever and replace Jordan Walker with someone who can hit and this team is in decent shape.
As mentioned above, you’re basically looking at 2/$41.5 million or 3/$54 million for Contreras. He’ll probably be a 2.5-3.0 WAR player, maybe even a little less going forward. Not sure what the market for that is or how many catching starved teams there are. Not to mention his NTC so he can decide his destination. Would only likely be a cost saving move for St Louis with no major prospects coming back unless they’re willing to eat salary.
Is he a viable catcher any longer? He’s been off the position for a year now.
This is a valid concern.
However, the new ABS challenge system will lower the value of framing, which was his biggest defensive weakness as a catcher. Meanwhile, throwing out runners has become even more important, which was his biggest defensive strength. He just needs to abandon that weird one-legged crouch that the Cardinals had him try in 2024 to improve his framing at the cost of his throwing and blocking.
Valid points on framing, but they want Herrera to catch and it not clear if Contreras would want to catch again.
Well, that’s only if Contreras is actually traded. We’re already assuming he’s not catching again for the Cardinals.
The one position where the Cards are loaded on the farm is catcher. They absolutely dont need Contreras to catch – and to everyone’s surprise he has been an above average defensive 1B
@mustard: ah, you’re right. I thought he was still splitting time at catcher like last year. So, around $18-20 million for a DH with an OPS+ around 120-125, maybe worse as he ages. I’m not sure that’s worth much.
Above average defensive 1B. Pay attention.
Contreras isn’t a catcher anymore.
Yeah, my bad. Haven’t paid much attention to him this season and thought he was still splitting time there. Probably diminishes his value further as his EV and OPS+ were down this year.
Nate Burleson is the Cardinals first baseman now??? So I don’t have to watch him on CBS anymore!!!
Nobody’s gonna want this clown ESPECIALLY with that ridiculous contract. Cards severely overpaid for him, not even a catcher anymore. He has negative value and STL is stuck with him.
You need to make a better effort if you are going to call players clowns! He has been worth 2.8 fWAR or 2.5 bWAR this year which is pretty far from negative value.
At 18M it’s not negative, but it’s also not ‘pretty far’ from negative.
Contreras is a plus hitter and takes hitting well seriously. He has anger management issues and is a poor defensive catcher, but his bat still plays at 1B or even DH
Plus, his defense at 1B has been pretty good.
OK so what exactly is this article telling us?
That St. Louis is going to trade everybody with a big salary and go even cheaper next season. It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Like Pittsburgh bad.
They could go White Sox bad (this year, not last).
No, it’s telling us that Contreras at the very least is very likely staying put.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals should at least go with a similar payroll next year as they did this year, not significantly cut it even further.
I was anti-Contreras from the beginning, and through most of his tenure, I complained about that signing. Seems like most people are anti-Contreras now, but his statements really make me have a lot of respect for him for genuinely wanting to be here even during a rebuilding process. I like that. No way that the overall value of the contract will be met, but I don’t really see cutting his salary as a huge necessity right now.
Herrera getting another chance behind the plate allows for Burleson/Contreras to split some time at DH, I’m fine with it.
I think the eye-opening comment here is that Contreras said he understands it may take 3-5 years. I think that’s a lot longer than what everyone here expects.
The value of his contract has easily been met over his first 3 years in St. Louis, and I don’t see that changing much over the final 2 (or 3 if his option is picked up).. It’s always been a good signing, even with his poor defense at catcher over the first 2 years.
At least you’ve come around on him now.
Who said MLB players are selfish and only want to be on a winning team?
I don’t think wanting to play for a winner is selfish. I think that’s part of being a competitor. Selfish is just going for the biggest money, but even then, it’s hard to blame them. If one company offers me $100k and another offers $125k, odds are pretty good I’m going for the most money. Same as most people.
If the 125k involves a longer commute or a horrible boss or lousy benefits then it would not be wise, even though more money.
Players that go for that 1 dollar more are more likely to be ‘union’ zealots and are not putting, teams, family or fans first.
There are always extenuating circumstances, but don’t lose the point looking for exceptions. There are guys who will go to a losing team, or play in a lousy stadium, or work under a bad manager for 10% more. That’s their right to choose what they want from the available offers.
Clearly just opened the door to move after saying he was staying earlier in the yr…translated he wants to win
Other 29 teams in MLB “no thank you”
If any team expects the Cardinals to eat any of Contreras’s salary, they’re not getting him. He’s being paid fairly for the value he provides, even at 1B where his defense has been rather good, and the Cardinals have little reason to trade him in the first place.
As for Burleson, assuming Herrera still plays a bunch of DH (along with C?), yeah Burleson’s outfield defense isn’t great, but the Cardinals need offense in the OF anyway, while the glove-first Scott plays CF and there are still questions with Nootbaar and especially Walker.
So paid fairly means only slight residual value and lesser trade compensation right? I just want to be clear on this.
The St. Louis minor league team will be the opening day team next season. I see management going super cheap to recoup the money they lost for the fans not showing up over the lack of effort by said management. Welcome to the new St. Louis Cardinal organization.
DeWitts……time to sell. Find an owner who wants to win and move on.
Sooner or later, Bill III is going to fully embrace the “small market” excuse, literally
If the Padres could get one of King/Cease back on an incentive-laden deal with opt-outs, I would love for them to snag Contreras. He would be a perfect pairing with Sheets at 1B/DH, and I’m still confused why he was moved off C when his defensive numbers are passable.
Defensive metrics at catcher don’t tell the whole story. In fact, they tell maybe 40% of the story. Pitchers hate throwing to Contreras. That’s it. There’s no metric to measure it. I know modern baseball evaluators want statistical certainty, but it’s not there. Physically, Contreras is everything you want in a catcher. Intangibly, he is the anti-Molina. He has no idea how to get hitters out. He has no idea what his pitchers do well or don’t do well. He’s a very passionate, physically-impressive, stubbornly clueless, athlete.
He cannot catch fastballs anymore. Hicks gave him fits with his velocity
Career longevity. Contreras isn’t the first catcher to want to have functioning knees in his 50’s. See Mauer, Joe
I can translate what Contreras said.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!
Contreras has actually hit better with the Cardinals than he did with the Cubs, but his reputation as a poor catcher probably would limit interest in him.
Next thing you know, they’ll be raising the price of underwear.
Grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Would be interesting to see him traded to Milwaukee to form a catching tandem with his brother. Plus if any team can fix his issues behind the plate it’s Milwaukee.
Cards want savings not so much winning. Rebuild with savings is tops for them.
The dissing of Oli Marmol for walking Busch in the bottom of the eighth, when he was a single away from a cycle, is silly, childish–Brett Taylor stuff. Marmol was trying to win the game for his team. And the Cardinals DID bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, didn’t they? Not letting Busch hit might well have mattered.
The fans at Wrigley Field booed, but they shouldn’t have: We were there yesterday to see a game, a competition. Marmol was competing, and I respect him for it.
If Seattle can’t resign Naylor (and I think they can) they’ll be on the phone with the Cardinals for Contreras.
This lunatic shouldn’t be anywhere near a young rebuilding roster. He’s psychologically triggered, basket case with anger management issues. I’m not convinced that he and William are actually related
Get real!