The Boston Red Sox have gotten everything they could have dreamed of when acquiring Willson Contreras.
I don’t think that is breaking news to anyone. Not only does he seem to be the only guy who gives a shit, but he has stabilized a position that became a real issue over the last few seasons. He hits for both average and power, plays superb defense, has displayed leadership qualities that are missing from other veterans, and he’s cool! It’s as good an addition as this franchise has made this decade,
especially considering the fact they gave up three pitchers who haven’t contributed anything to the St. Louis Cardinals.
I wouldn’t exactly say that makes him untouchable, though…
Contreras isn’t just one of the club’s trade chips — Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, Jarren Duran, and Masataka Yoshida can all go, too — but he’s undoubtedly the club’s best trade chip.
Contreras entered the week slashing .298/.391/.540 with 13 home runs and 39 runs batted in — with that .931 OPS ranking third behind Ben Rice (1.032) and Munetaka Murakami (.938). If we’re talking about right-handed bats, he might be the best and most affordable option on the market. Taylor Ward isn’t better. Byron Buxton would cost triple. Matt Chapman is having the worst year of his career. It’s an indisputable fact that your first baseman could fetch quite a package in a trade, which is why he’s more valuable to you as a trade chip than an everyday player.
Boston is straight up terrible, and despite the fact that the Sox are only a few games back in the race for that final playoff spot, there is little hope that postseason baseball will actually materialize for this club. If it somehow does, there’s even less hope that they can make a run to a title.
(As a quick aside, I’m of the belief that you play for championships. Making the playoffs just to say you made the playoffs is loser shit that should be saved for franchises like the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Las Oaklamento Athletics — not the Boston Red Sox.)
Contreras is technically under contract through 2028, which is why some folks view him as a long-term piece. I just view that as another reason why he’ll be worth more in a trade, as the incoming lockout and lack of true direction for this franchise make it far less likely that they’ll be ready to compete for championships by the end of it.
I don’t want to hear about how hard it has been to find a first baseman, either!
Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, Abraham Toro, and Dom Smith have ruined all of your brains! It’s actually quite easy, as is evidenced by Murakami taking an outrageously team-friendly deal in Chicago, Rafael Devers, Bryce Harper, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all made the position change relatively easily. It’s not as hard as some have made it out to be.
I just want to see this organization tear things down from the studs, which means firing a few guys, trading others, and resetting the philosophy that has players fighting with coaches and ownership side-eyeing the front-office.
One way to kick things off with a bang? Trade the only guy who has made a difference for the better.
Now, discuss amongst yourselves.
