Question of the week: Should the Sox trade Contreras?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Contreras is having a great season, and currently has the best OPS+ of his career. If the Red Sox continue stumbling, do you think Contreras should be traded at the deadline?

[mvp 78]

I'd keep him because they have him for '27 with a club option for '28. 

Gray is a goner though. 

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd keep him because they have him for '27 with a club option for '28. 

Gray is a goner though. 

I agree, and anybody you trade like Con Man, or Chapman they have to be replaced.

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree, and anybody you trade like Con Man, or Chapman they have to be replaced.

There's generally a premium on pitching at the deadline, not on hitting like Contreras. I don't think the Sox would get a ton a value for the Contreras with 2.5 years vs Chapman with 1.5 years or Gray with .5 years. I guess it all depends on what the needs are of the contenders at the time. Usually it's pitching though! 

[Nick]

31 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd keep him because they have him for '27 with a club option for '28. 

Gray is a goner though. 

Big No....are you nuts?  He's earning his paycheck unlike others. (to the original poster)

MLB.com has both Gray and Duran in their top 9 trading targets. Throw in Chapman too. Someone should take all three. 

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

There's generally a premium on pitching at the deadline, not on hitting like Contreras. I don't think the Sox would get a ton a value for the Contreras with 2.5 years vs Chapman with 1.5 years or Gray with .5 years. I guess it all depends on what the needs are of the contenders at the time. Usually it's pitching though! 

It’s not like Chapman hasn’t been traded before like by the Yankees, and then they got him back.

[notin]

No.

Will any teams even be shopping for 1b/DH types?  Besides maybe Boston? 

[Behindenemylines]

No! Team needs right-handed power, and you trade the only right-handed power bat we have? If we had two more right-handed hitters with at least 10 home runs, with the pitching and D we have received, we would be in one of the playoff spots in the weak American League!

[southpaw777]

I think it depends on what’s offered at the deadline. With another year of control and having shown steady power, a ba at 280-300 and solid D. If someone is willing to pay for him I let him go.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

What a terrible place they find themselves in.  If they trade Contreras and Chapman they have pretty much punted 2027, if it happens.  But they should obviously be sellers at the deadline.  

 

 

[notin]

31 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

What a terrible place they find themselves in.  If they trade Contreras and Chapman they have pretty much punted 2027, if it happens.  But they should obviously be sellers at the deadline.  

 

 

Youre kidding.

Chapman could be gone anyway; why not trade him?

And Contreras is 34 and having a career year.  He’s not very likely to be the same hitter in August/September of 2026, let alone 2027..

If they get a good offer for Contreras, take it…

[drewski6]

He has a ton of trade value, thats first of all.  Id have to be blown away.  I dont think a team would meet my demands which is pretty much a close to MLB ready great hitting prospect.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Youre kidding.

Chapman could be gone anyway; why not trade him?

And Contreras is 34 and having a career year.  He’s not very likely to be the same hitter in August/September of 2026, let alone 2027..

If they get a good offer for Contreras, take it…

The optics are terrible and even if you expect some regression for 2027, he still projects to be one of our better hitters.  It would have to be a great offer.

[notin]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

The optics are terrible and even if you expect some regression for 2027, he still projects to be one of our better hitters.  It would have to be a great offer.

So you think optics are a concern?

[drewski6]

Just now, notin said:

So you think optics are a concern?

How many good hitters are we going to trade away or let go, and just keep rolling over a lineup with less thump year after year.  Its kind of been a multi year trend.

[drewski6]

Im not sure the exact line between good and great return package, but for Contreras Im not settling.

Mostly because I completely reject the line of thinking on this board that DH/1B dont carry any value.  A good hitter is a good hitter.  And they arent exactly easy to find/acquire these days, even if they play 1b.

But I do think Roman is the 1b of the future.

[notin]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

How many good hitters are we going to trade away or let go, and just keep rolling over a lineup with less thump year after year.  It’s kind of been a multi year trend.

I did say earlier on this thread it many teams will be looking for 1b/DH types, so he most likely stays put.

But let’s not go comparing Contreras at 34 years old with one year left to Betts, Bogaerts, Devers, etc.  Those players had potential futures in Boston.  Contreras has one year left here and is likely to decline towards retirement afterwards…

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

Youre kidding.

Chapman could be gone anyway; why not trade him?

And Contreras is 34 and having a career year.  He’s not very likely to be the same hitter in August/September of 2026, let alone 2027..

If they get a good offer for Contreras, take it…

It was my understanding that if he pitched 40 innings and passed a physical at the end of the season his contract extends to 2027.  

[notin]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Im not sure the exact line between good and great return package, but for Contreras Im not settling.

Mostly because I completely reject the line of thinking on this board that DH/1B dont carry any value.  A good hitter is a good hitter.  And they arent exactly easy to find/acquire these days, even if they play 1b.

But I do think Roman is the 1b of the future.

Bear in mind we did get Contreras for a respectable but unexciting package of Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita.

I know some folks were enamored of Fajardo, but he was acquired in a trade for the extremely replaceable Cam Booser.

Set your prices accordingly.   At the trade deadline, Tyron Guerrero might be more valuable than Contreras, which is why I don’t expect a trade….

[notin]

4 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

It was my understanding that if he pitched 40 innings and passed a physical at the end of the season his contract extends to 2027.  

Yes.  He only needs 19.2 IP, I think.  Will he get that many if he stays in Boston?

I think the option kicks in and his 2027 is guaranteed.  For the Cubs.  They desperately need a closer and the last time they acquired him, things went well…

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Yes.  He only needs 19.2 IP, I think.  Will he get that many if he stays in Boston?

I think the option kicks in and his 2027 is guaranteed.  For the Cubs.  They desperately need a closer and the last time they acquired him, things went well…

He's half way there and it's June 18.  I think there is a great chance he gets there, Hell if he's close they can always utilize him in a non-save situation to get to that 40 inning mark.  He has enormous value but he is also one of the few reasons to watch this team and I'd hate to see him go.  He is a badass.  

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

Yes.  He only needs 19.2 IP, I think.  Will he get that many if he stays in Boston?

I think the option kicks in and his 2027 is guaranteed.  For the Cubs.  They desperately need a closer and the last time they acquired him, things went well…

Knowing how it has been run here, he'll get about 18.1 and then get shutdown. 

[notin]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Knowing how it has been run here, he'll get about 18.1 and then get shutdown. 

I will openly predict he goes to the Cubs for a package featuring 24yo corner INF Jonathon Long….

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

I will openly predict he goes to the Cubs for a package featuring 24yo corner INF Jonathon Long….

I had a Bo Bichette jumpscare when I opened his MiLB page. Dopplegangers. 

[drewski6]

42 minutes ago, notin said:

Bear in mind we did get Contreras for a respectable but unexciting package of Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita.

I know some folks were enamored of Fajardo, but he was acquired in a trade for the extremely replaceable Cam Booser.

Set your prices accordingly.   At the trade deadline, Tyron Guerrero might be more valuable than Contreras, which is why I don’t expect a trade….

That was prior to a mini Contreras resurgence.

[notin]

22 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I had a Bo Bichette jumpscare when I opened his MiLB page. Dopplegangers. 

A bit older than Bichette, who was already a MLB veteran at age 24.  Long has a, well, long swing that still works for contact as well as some RH power.  His 2026 looks awful compared to his stellar 2025, but a lot of that is probably due to an elbow injury he got in February that kept him out of the WBC (for the China-Taipei team, I believe).  
 

He has played both corner INF and corner OF and probably settles in as a 1b-3b-DH type if the Sox don’t mess with him.  I’m actually surprised he didn’t debut last year, but the Cubs really don’t need him and he’s a good fit for Boston…

[notin]

5 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

That was prior to a mini Contreras resurgence.

But at a year older, his trade value goes down.

He likely stays due to a lack of interest in 1b/Dh types.  But if some team needs RHH power, there’s no reason to hold back beyond PR.  This doesn’t mean he gets given away.  Set a price and see who meets it, if anyone.

As much as folks don’t like Breslow, he has brought in Contreras, Gray and Chapman and all have worked out fine.  If the Sox don’t mess move Contreras, why do you think Breslow couldn’t find the next Contreras?

[drewski6]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

A bit older than Bichette, who was already a veteran at age 24.  Long has a, well, long swing that still works for contact as well as some RH power.  His 2026 looks awful compared to his stellar 2025, but a lot of that is probably due to an elbow injury he got in February that kept him out of the WBC (for the China-Taipei team, I believe).  
 

He has played both corner INF and corner OF and probably settles in as a 1b-3b-DH type if the Sox don’t mess with him.  I’m actually surprised he didn’t debut last year, but the Cubs really don’t need him and he’s a good fit for Boston…

I like that you are eyeing bat first players.

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

But at a year older, his trade value goes down.

He likely stays due to a lack of interest in 1b/Dh types.  But if some team needs RHH power, there’s no reason to hold back beyond PR.  This doesn’t mean he gets given away.  Set a price and see who meets it, if anyone.

As much as folks don’t like Breslow, he has brought in Contreras, Gray and Chapman and all have worked out fine.  If the Sox don’t mess move Contreras, why do you think Breslow couldn’t find the next Contreras?

First of all, I fully expect Breslow to get fired after this season.

There is a multi-year trend of us moving towards noodlebat land, and now that we are squarely in it, Im hearing trade Duran (our best hitter in May) and trade Contreras (our best hitter in June).  Par for the course , I s'pose.

Breslow lucked into contreras, he got contreras because he could fit the 17m alongside Bregman. He didnt expect this.  Nobody did.  That doesnt mean he gets 0 credit, im sure there were things about contreras offense that breslow liked.  

Id move contreras, but i completely reject your seemingly devaluation of good hitters who play dh/1b and your overrating of defense first guys.  80% of the value comes from the bat. 

Contreras has a ton of trade value.  And Im not moving him excpet for a big package.

[Duran Is The Man]

24 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

First of all, I fully expect Breslow to get fired after this season.

There is a multi-year trend of us moving towards noodlebat land, and now that we are squarely in it, Im hearing trade Duran (our best hitter in May) and trade Contreras (our best hitter in June).  Par for the course , I s'pose.

Breslow lucked into contreras, he got contreras because he could fit the 17m alongside Bregman. He didnt expect this.  Nobody did.  That doesnt mean he gets 0 credit, im sure there were things about contreras offense that breslow liked.  

Id move contreras, but i completely reject your seemingly devaluation of good hitters who play dh/1b and your overrating of defense first guys.  80% of the value comes from the bat. 

Contreras has a ton of trade value.  And Im not moving him excpet for a big package.

trading the RH power bat of Contreras will leave us looking for......a RH power bat.