When the St. Louis Cardinals and Willson Contreras came to a mutual agreement for the veteran to transition to first base, it was widely viewed as a permanent change. After nine seasons of dealing with the physical demands of catching, both Contreras and the organization believed this move would enhance his health and potentially elevate his offensive performance.
At the time of the transition, former Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak expressed confidence that Contreras would not return to a catching role, stating, “I would say it’ll be very unlikely to see him behind the plate.” This decision also allowed for more playing time behind the dish for Ivan Herrera, who had faced some injury setbacks, and Pedro Pages.
In his first full season as a first baseman, Contreras performed commendably, recording a .257 batting average, .344 on-base percentage, and a .447 slugging percentage for a .791 OPS. He hit 20 home runs and drove in 80 runs across 135 games while achieving a 123 OPS+ — a testament to his offensive prowess.
From a health perspective, the transition proved successful, with Contreras setting a career high in plate appearances at 563. He managed to minimize time on the Injured List despite absorbing 23 hit-by-pitches. His durability has been a key indicator of the move’s effectiveness.
Concerns surrounding his defensive capabilities were raised due to the shift from the seasoned Paul Goldschmidt to a player who had registered only 11 appearances at first base prior to the change. However, Contreras excelled defensively, finishing with six Outs Above Average — fourth best in Major League Baseball — which demonstrated his capability as a first baseman, even if he recorded a marginal negative in Defensive Runs Saved.
Interestingly, there remains a possibility that Contreras could return to catching in the near future. Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, while at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, suggested that if the situation called for it, he wouldn’t rule out Contreras taking on catching duties again. “He has a passion for it, and if needed, I wouldn’t put it past him to be able to go back and still do it,” Marmol stated, highlighting Contreras’s versatility.
This commentary can also be seen in light of Contreras’s increasing trade market appeal, as several teams—including the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox—are reportedly eyeing him for potential acquisition. If he remains with the Cardinals for the upcoming 2026 season, he is unlikely to return to catching, with Ivan Herrera set to take on part-time responsibilities, supported by backups Yohel Pozo, Jimmy Crooks, and Pedro Pages.
As teams evaluate their rosters this winter, the ongoing discussions about Contreras’s capabilities could serve to bolster his trade value. The Cardinals’ approach and Contreras’s adaptability suggest an exciting offseason ahead for both the player and the organization.