The 2025-26 offseason featured many notable trades despite lacking a single defining blockbuster. The Cardinals were among the biggest sellers, moving Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan, and Willson Contreras, while the Red Sox were active buyers, acquiring Gray, Contreras, Caleb Durbin, and Johan Oviedo. Early results suggest Contreras has been one of the best winter additions. Through 50 games, he is hitting .281 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI, posting a .899 OPS, .393 wOBA, and 148 wRC+. His expected wOBA ranks fifth in the AL. Defensive metrics show improvement at first base, with positive DRS and FRV. He has produced 2.0 WAR and leads the Red Sox in multiple offensive categories.
"Through 50 games, Contreras is hitting .281 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI. His .899 OPS, .393 wOBA, and 148 wRC+ all put him among the AL's top 10 qualified hitters. His .397 expected wOBA ranks fifth, trailing only Yordan Alvarez, Aaron Judge, , and . For what it's worth, his glove has also looked sharper in his sophomore season at first base. In 2025, he finished with -1 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and a +4 Fielding Run Value (FRV). This year, he has a +3 DRS and a +4 FRV in less than half as many innings."
"The result of it all is 2.0 Wins Above Replacement, according to both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference. That's All-Star-caliber production, although fellow first basemen Rice, , and Munetaka Murakami will give Contreras tough competition when it comes to making this summer's AL All-Star squad."
"All-Star or not, there is no overstating how important Contreras has been to an otherwise floundering Red Sox offense. He leads the team in home runs, RBI, Win Probability Added, OPS, wRC+, and fWAR. Red Sox Nation held its collective breath earlier this month when Nick Martinez hit Contreras on the hand with a fastball, forcing him out of the game. Luckily, Contreras avoided any sort of serious"
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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