Adrian Beltre is often pointed to as the best one-year player to dawn the Red Sox uniform.
Boston signed him to a one-year, $9 million contract for the 2010 season at age 31. All he did in that season was lead baseball with 49 doubles, slug 28 home runs with 102 RBIs while leading all third basemen in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS (.919).
That tremendous season in Boston, though it marked the first of three consecutive playoff absences for the Red Sox, earned Beltre
a six-year, $96 million deal with the soon-to-be back-to-back reigning American League champion Texas Rangers.
Fast forward to 2026. Willson Contreras isn’t quite to that level of production and is three years older at age 34. Nonetheless, in what will likely be a short stay in Boston, Contreras is the most productive player in the Red Sox lineup as a rare source of consistent energy and pop.
Contreras ranks third among MLB first baseman with an .894 OPS in ranks in the top-six in several other offensive categories at the position. Given how much inconsistency in personnel the Red Sox have had at that position over the previous two seasons, it’s hard to ask for anything more from the veteran. He hits, plays solid defense, leads in the clubhouse and plays with energy unreflective of a team that’s nine games under .500.
Contreras should be an All-Star with a ticket to Philadelphia in mid-July. He’s made a fantastic impact for a Red Sox team that hasn’t left much to be fondly remembered when this season ends, barring an unrealistic turnaround.
So, what’s his future like in Boston?
That’s weird to ask two months into his first season with a new team, but the reality is that if the Red Sox choose to fully sell at the trade deadline (which they should), Contreras is among the most intriguing names teams could call on.
His contract could sway the trade-or-keep decision each way. Contreras is under contract through the 2027 season with a club option for $20 million in 2028. The Red Sox could keep him as the answer at first base through then or use that to haul a more enticing return from a contender at the end of July.
Contreras is fantastic in a Red Sox uniform. The only question is how long will it last?
