In 2016, Willson Contreras was called up to act as an alternative to Miguel Montero behind the plate, at least on days where David Ross wasn't catching for Jon Lester. It was, in actuality, the last necessary piece to cement a lineup that would propel the Cubs to a World Series, one they would FINALLY win. Contreras used that season as a starting point, and eventually became one of the best hitting catchers in baseball, retaining his dignity until 2022, and eventually leaving to play for the division rivals in St. Louis.
Now, Contreras has a different role, as first baseman on a team vastly different from the 2016 Cubs. The 2026 Red Sox do have a lot of great young players, and a lineup on the verge of greatness...but they're still a last place team, and they're still relying on Contreras's offense as a main asset rather than as one of many standouts. In 2016, Contreras could be a cog in a machine and let Rizzo, Bryant, Fowler, Schwarber and Baez have heroic moments. Now, when Anthony, Mayer, Duran and Yoshida don't have things rolling, it's up to Contreras more often than not. The balance has shifted.
I thought it was really cool earlier this month, though, to see Willson Contreras reunited with Jon Lester, as the latter was inducted into Sox Hall of Fame. Lester in 2016 was the ten year veteran, the World Series winner, the ace coming to town to jumpstart a new regime. Lester had all the respect in the world when he came to Chicago, and he wanted to win that third ring with a new team. And so it would be done. Now, Willson is the ten year veteran coming to town in an effort to jumpstart something. And so it was really fitting that Contreras got to give a hug to Lester after his ceremony. The passing of the mantle, as it was.
Contreras is currently hitting .281 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs, pretty exceptional power numbers for the big guy. His OPS is .899, the best in Boston currently. And while it might not be the most exceptional season by a member of the Contreras family, Willson's is a very sure and confident barrage of power, surer than he's been since 2019. Now, as a first baseman, he can appear in more games, and last year he came the closest to 100 RBIs of any season thus far, with 80. He's never had a 25 homer year, which is kind of insane, and perhaps this is the year that changes.
The Sox themselves are still struggling to live up to expectations. The young kids, Early and Tolle, are making up a lot of ground that Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello should have covered by now. Jarren Duran's still hitting .193, and if you can believe it, Caleb Durbin's hitting worse. Story's 2025 resurgence may have been a one-off. It's not a terribly engaging team, and yesterday I saw my first 'where Aroldis Chapman might be heading this July' article. Having Contreras is certainly better than the alternative, but hopefully he stays long enough to not have to be as essential as he is right now.
Coming Tonight: Speaking of people who really shouldn't be as essential as they are right now, for teams that shouldn't be as bad as they are right now, a guy making more money than you, and for good reason.
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