Blue Jays' rivals stay busy adding another star player to an already stacked division

Another star player is joining an already stacked American League East division. On Sunday evening (Dec. 21) the Boston Red Sox reportedly acquired Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals. The 33-year-old right hander is the latest in a series of moves by Blue Jays division rivals over the weekend that have strengthened a couple of teams heading into 2026.

Contreras not only brings a steady bat, but also an above average glove to the Red Sox at a position he transitioned to only last season.

Blue Jays' rivals stay busy adding another star player to an already stacked division

Contreras was originally signed as an armature free agent by the Chicago Cubs in 2009, and spent his first seven big league seasons with the Cubbies, inlcuding helping them to the 2016 World Series championship in his rookie season in 2016. He then left the Cubs for their division rivals, the Cardinals to become the heir apparent to long time Cardinals legend, Yadier Molina.

Contreras signed a five-year $87.5 million deal with the Cardinals ahead of the 2023 season, but the Cardinals didn't love his play behind the plate and so he spent most of that year as the DH. In 2024, he started to show improvement as the backstop but then suffered a fractured left forearm after being hit by the bat of J.D. Martinez. Last season, the Cardinals decided to deploy Contreras at first base and he excelled, tied for fourth in Outs Above Average at +6.

But with the Cardinals looking to shed salary, the native of Venezuela has now reportedly spent his final days in the NL Central and is moving over to the AL East, to join the Red Sox who have continued to be active this winter. They made some major moves in the pitching department, including getting another former Cardinal in RHP Sonny Gray earlier this offseason. They also traded with the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire Johan Oviedo. However, this is the first major move to try and address their lineup.

The Red Sox had been rumored to be interested in both Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso before they came off the board, picked up by the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles respectively. They've also been rumored to be interested in getting Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman and had their eyes on Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami before he signed with the White Sox. It appears as if the Red Sox aren't having much luck in the free agency department, but they have been very active on the trade front.

In addition to getting Contreras, St. Louis is also sending $8 million in exchange for RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Yhoiker Fajardo (Boston's No. 23 prospect) and RHP Blake Aita. Contreras has been one of the most consistent, steady hitters in the game over the last decade. He's hit 172 home runs while slashing .258/.352/.459 with an OPS of .811. He's averaged 26 home runs a season and 143 hits, but also has a 24.2% career strike out rate with a 4.0% career walk rate.

The Red Sox continue to make moves that will put pressure on everyone else in the division, including the Blue Jays.