MLB Rumors: Cardinals' Willson Contreras Willing to Accept Trade
According to reporting from The Athletic’s Katie Woo, Contreras is now open to waiving his full no-trade clause if the fit is right, adding another major name to Chaim Bloom’s list of possible winter trade pieces.
The Cardinals do not feel they must move him, but they are preparing to present him with options as more clubs look for first base help.
Why a Willson Contreras trade is on the table for the Cardinals
Contreras is still owed thirty six and a half million dollars over the next two seasons, with a club option for 2028, and that contract alone makes him a more challenging piece to move than some of St. Louis’ other veteran assets.
But the market for him may not be as limited as it seems. He posted a .791 OPS with twenty homers and eighty RBIs in 2025, transitioned smoothly to first base, and continues to bring top tier bat speed and consistent two to three win production every year.
Willson Contreras is open to a trade and has become more willing to waive his full no-trade clause with the Cardinals, per @katiejwoo.
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) December 2, 2025
Contreras has two years and $36.5 million remaining on his contract, along with a $17.5 million club option in 2028. pic.twitter.com/92W88BwZbH
The Cardinals are also shopping Nolan Arenado and at least one of their left-handed bats after already dealing Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox, signaling that Bloom is committed to reshaping the roster around a younger core.
Contreras is not being pushed out by any means, but his openness to waive the clause gives St. Louis far more flexibility.
Which teams could target Willson Contreras this offseason?
ESPN insiders Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel still peg the odds of a Willson Contreras trade at only fifteen percent, citing his desire to stay in St. Louis and the difficulty in moving his contract and getting good value at the same time.
Even still, potential fits are starting to emerge. The Pittsburgh Pirates have been floated as a favorite thanks to payroll space and a glaring need for middle-of-the-order help. The Miami Marlins are an intriguing dark horse given their weak first base production and growing willingness to spend.
Near the end of the 2025 season, Willson Contreras said he preferred to stay with the #STLCards
— STL Sports Central (@STLSprtsCntrl) December 2, 2025
But according to Katie Woo, his stance has softened. She reports the veteran is now “open to trade offers” and “more willing to waive his full no-trade clause for the right fit”… pic.twitter.com/euQvvLXt93
The Washington Nationals or Texas Rangers also make sense, depending on how aggressive they want to be with their young cores.
Any deal likely hinges on the Cardinals eating money or finding a creative match, but Contreras’ willingness to consider a move is the big development in a winter of sweeping change in St. Louis.
Photo Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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