As he heads into the third season of his five-year, $87.5MM contract, Willson Contreras is headed for a place change. The Cardinals plan to maneuver Contreras from catcher to first base subsequent season, stories Jesse Rogers of ESPN. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak advised reporters on the GM Conferences at present that the transfer to a primary base/designated hitter function was made with Contreras’ long-term well being and longevity in thoughts, including that he’s “unlikely” to catch a lot in any respect in 2025 (X hyperlink by way of Katie Woo of The Athletic).
Mozeliak added that Contreras was fairly clear about his need to stay in St. Louis even because the crew embarks on one thing of a reset (by way of Woo). That makes it unlikely he’d be keen to waive his full no-trade clause this offseason. It’s an analogous story with right-hander Sonny Grey, it appears. Mozeliak didn’t immediately state as a lot, however Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Put up-Dispatch stories that Grey has additionally expressed a choice to stay with the Cardinals. Like Contreras, Grey has full no-trade safety.
The transfer to first base for Contreras opens the trail for Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages to separate time behind the plate. It’s maybe doable that an harm to 1 or each gamers may lead to Contreras suiting up and crouching behind dwelling plate as soon as once more, however it appears the group’s choice is a shift away from that function. It’s the most recent in a winding saga with the Cardinals’ seeming distaste for Contreras’ protection — one which started simply weeks into his first season with the membership.
The Cardinals introduced early within the 2023 season that Contreras could be transferring off catcher for at the very least just a few weeks. On the time, Mozeliak harassed that Contreras hadn’t caught his final recreation for the membership however added that the crew had grown accustomed to Yadier Molina’s glovework behind the dish, including that “that is going to take a while to get him to the place we really feel he understands the expectations of what this function is for us.” It was a surprising announcement lower than two months right into a five-year contract, and one which generated much more confusion when Contreras returned to catching only one week later.
With the contract now 40% full, Contreras seems ticketed for a extra everlasting transfer off the place. The 32-year-old has lengthy been thought to be a bat-first catcher, however the ongoing questions in regards to the Cardinals’ satisfaction along with his protection (or lack thereof) has at a number of factors prompted questions on why the crew signed him to a five-year deal within the first place. These questions will solely develop louder now. Statcast has typically given Contreras plus grades for his throwing and rated him as a stable blocker, although his framing expertise have been panned. He’s lived as much as his finish of the deal on the plate, nonetheless, hitting a mixed .263/.367/.468 in 853 plate appearances. A damaged forearm and finger, amongst different smaller accidents, have restricted his time on the sphere, however Contreras has typically been one of many Cardinals’ greatest hitters when wholesome.
That’ll presumably proceed as he strikes into a brand new function on the sphere. Contreras’ place shift appears prone to shut the door on a possible reunion with free agent Paul Goldschmidt, who’ll now look to rebound elsewhere after a disappointing end to his St. Louis tenure. It’ll additionally lastly give the 24-year-old Herrera a crack on the beginning catcher function for which he’s appeared prepared for a number of years.
Herrera was regarded as a possible inheritor to Molina behind the plate, however any such hopes have been dashed when the Playing cards initially signed Contreras. He’s a .289/.365/.398 hitter in 325 main league plate appearances (117 wRC+) and carries a stout .281/.414/.453 slash in 176 Triple-A contests. Pages, 26, hit .238/.281/.376 in 218 large league plate appearances in 2024. The righty hitter did publish stable offensive numbers as a 24-year-old in Double-A in 2023, however scouting stories on him have questioned his hit software whereas characterizing him as a likelier platoon choice or backup.
Turning to Grey, his obvious need to stay in St. Louis makes him a much less apparent commerce candidate than he was coming into the winter. The Playing cards have been reported to be open to affords on Grey even earlier than they publicly revealed their plan for a step-back to give attention to participant improvement. Grey’s no-trade clause and closely backloaded contract have been all the time important roadblocks in a possible commerce, however ones that doubtlessly appeared surmountable. He was fairly selective about his vacation spot in free company, preferring to be comparatively near his Nashville dwelling. Nonetheless, there was some thought {that a} commerce to a geographically shut membership would possibly maintain enchantment.
Figuring out such a swap would’ve been difficult. Grey’s three-year, $75MM contract paid him simply $10MM in 12 months one. He’s owed $65MM over the course of the subsequent two seasons. That’s an enormous quantity for an buying membership to tackle, significantly if mentioned membership has luxury-tax considerations (e.g. the Braves). A crew buying a contract is taxed on the rest of the deal slightly than the unique AAV, that means a brand new membership could be on the hook for a $32.5MM luxurious hit in buying Grey. These hurdles are all rendered moot, nonetheless, if Grey prefers to stay in St. Louis and see how issues play out within the short-term.
Mozeliak advised reporters at present that he spoke to all of his gamers with no-trade clauses. Which means he’s at the very least broached the likelihood with third baseman Nolan Arenado. It’s not but clear, nonetheless, whether or not Arenado is as convicted in his need to stay on board by way of the crew’s reset. Actually, the shortage of feedback or concrete reporting on the matter doesn’t imply Arenado is requesting and even open to a commerce, however the lack of knowledge on him will gas pure hypothesis. Arenado’s commerce from Colorado to St. Louis, in any case, was prompted by his frustration over the Rockies’ lack of ability to subject a aggressive roster. Enjoying for a contending membership was a precedence for him — a lot in order that he handed on an opt-out alternative in his contract to stay in St. Louis due largely to their standing as perennial contenders.
Arenado now has three years and $74MM remaining on his contract. The Rockies are on the hook for $5MM of that sum. He’s had two straight pedestrian seasons on the plate, batting .269/.320/.426 since 2023. That’s nonetheless barely higher than league-average manufacturing by measure of wRC+ however is a far cry from his MVP-caliber 2022 exhibiting when he hit .293/.358/.553. Whether or not he can bounce again as he heads into his age-34 marketing campaign is an open query, however Arenado stays an elite defender with uncommon sturdiness. He’s missed 28 video games over the previous two seasons however has performed in 94.6% of his groups’ video games relationship again to the 2015 season.
