Former Cubs catcher Willson Contreras has joined the club’s biggest rival, filling the Cardinals' biggest off season need.
Contreras has agreed to join the Cardinals on a five-year, $87.5-million deal, according to multiple reports Wednesday. In St. Louis, Contreras will be tasked with replacing 10-time All-Star catcher Yadier Molina, who retired after the 2022 season.
Contreras, 30, had been a cornerstone piece for the Cubs since making his big league debut in 2016, when he was a member of their championship team. He was an All-Star in 2018, 2019 and this past season, when he hit .243 with 22 homers, 55 RBIs and an .815 OPS in 113 games.
Contreras’ departure from Chicago came as no surprise, as the prevailing thought was he’d be dealt before the trade deadline last summer. When the Cubs couldn’t find an offer to their liking, they held onto him, believing the draft pick compensation they’d get in return for him signing elsewhere would be worth more. The Cubs are now set to receive a compensation pick after the second round of the 2023 MLB amateur draft because they previously extended Contreras a qualifying offer, which he declined.
Of course, Contreras joining the rival Cardinals is quite the wrinkle. He has been front and center in the rivalry over the past seven seasons, in which the two teams have regularly competed for the NL Central crown. The Cubs won the division in 2016, 2017 and 2020, while the Cardinals won it in 2019 and 2022. Now, they’re both looking to reload, with Chicago adding right-hander Jameson Taillon and outfielder Cody Bellinger on Tuesday and St. Louis addressing a big need behind the plate in signing Contreras.
The Cardinals’ first trip to Wrigley Field in 2023 will come from May 8-10.