The Boston Red Sox have officially announced they will be moving on from one of their high-priced sluggers, a $105 million veteran, following the acquisition of first baseman and designated hitter Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals. The move marks a significant roster change as Boston continues its aggressive offseason reshaping.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow emphasized that the decision was part of a broader plan to balance the roster, strengthen the lineup, and maintain financial flexibility for future moves. “We are thankful for his contributions to the team and wish him the very best in the next chapter of his career,” Breslow said in a statement.
The departure comes after Boston missed out on free-agent superstar Pete Alonso, who signed a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Boston reportedly offered Alonso a three-year, $85 million contract, but the team pivoted to other options to bolster the lineup’s middle-of-the-order power.
By trading three prospects, including right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins, for Contreras, the Red Sox secured a proven veteran with 172 career home runs and over a decade of MLB experience. The team sees Contreras as a key addition capable of immediately impacting the lineup, both offensively and defensively.
While the high-priced hitter has been a key figure in Boston’s lineup over the past seasons, his departure provides the team with added payroll flexibility and opens a roster spot for younger players emerging from the farm system. Front-office executives emphasized that this move is about long-term planning as much as immediate improvement.
With Contreras now in the fold and the veteran hitter departing, the Red Sox are signaling a renewed focus on building a competitive roster for the 2026 season. Management has indicated that additional moves could still be made before spring training, as the team looks to balance power, depth, and pitching for a playoff push.