Sox Trade Dobbins For Contreras (12/22/25)

Once again the Boston Red Sox made a shocking trade as they sent starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins along with pitching prospects Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo to the St. Louis Cardinals for their starting first baseman Wilson Contreras. The Sox sacrificed yet another depth starter although they did get a much needed bat after the loss of Rafael Devers was never truly fulfilled during the regular season. If that wasn't bad enough, Rob Refsnyder signed with the Seattle Mariners.

                                                                     OUT

                                                                   IN

So who did the Sox give up? First, Rob Refsnyder signed a 1 year 6 million dollar contract to play for Seattle and Sox fans are livid that the front office has gone so cheap, they're not even signing their own utility players let alone other teams stars.

Yhoiker Fajardo was the prospect they got in the Cam Booser trade last December and he was 1-3 with a 2.98 ERA in 13 starts with the Salem Red Sox. He went from hitting 94 to 97 on the gun and seemed like a breakout star for Portland in 2026. Oh well.

Blake Aita was Boston's 6th round pick last year and was 3-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 10 starts for Salem. Wasn't a true fireballer but like Fajardo, he seemed like a potential star for the Portland Sea Dogs in 2026.

Hunter Dobbins finally made his ML debut after being drafted in 2021 and went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA before tearing his ACL in July. A shame he had to go in order to fill a hole on this team left by the departure of Nathaniel Lowe and the Devers trade.

So who did they get? Conteras was the rookie catcher on the 2016 Chicago Cubs that helped win the World Series before becoming a modern day Brian Daubach by averaging 20 home runs and 80 rbis with Chicago and St. Louis. He's going to be 33 this season and his catching days are over, he's mostly a first baseman. How that's going to play out with Triston Casas coming back remains to be seen. The Sox still have Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette as potential free agents to sign. Knowing the Sox, they won't sign either of them.