{"id":408590,"date":"2026-01-15T10:53:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T10:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/408590\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T10:53:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T10:53:10","slug":"willson-contreras-lands-dig-at-yankees-before-first-year-in-boston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/408590\/","title":{"rendered":"Willson Contreras lands dig at Yankees before first year in Boston"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston Red Sox\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t“I\u2019m not coming to Boston just to like the Yankees, because that\u2019s not going to happen.”<\/p>\n

\"St.
\n\tContreras should provide some pop in Boston’s lineup. AP Photo\/John Bazemore, File\t<\/p>\n

The Red Sox traded for Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras<\/a> earlier this offseason to add some right-handed pop to the lineup and a veteran presence in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

But, the former World Series champion should also bring some fire to a Red Sox team looking to reassert itself as a contender in the American League moving forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cI consider myself to be a winner, to be a gamer,\u201d Contreras said Wednesday while speaking to reporters via Zoom<\/a>. \u201cI think Boston has a lot of good things around the team. \u2026 If you play against me and you don\u2019t like me, that\u2019s fine with me, but at some point if we play together you\u2019re going to love me. I play to win, I don\u2019t play to mess around, I don\u2019t play to make friends on other teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contreras\u2019 intensity and desire to win should make him a popular figure in Boston \u2014 and a thorn in the side of the Red Sox\u2019 top rival moving forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Yankees are a really good team and they have good players, but I\u2019m not coming to Boston just to like the Yankees, because that\u2019s not going to happen,\u201d Contreras said. \u201cThey\u2019re probably going to start hating me whenever we play against each other, but I\u2019m going to play with fire, I\u2019m going to play with emotions and show them that we can win.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Red Sox clearly value what Contreras brings to a team, given that they parted with Hunter Dobbins and pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita to pry the 33-year-old infielder out of St. Louis.<\/p>\n

But Contreras, who had to waive his no-trade clause to complete the trade to Boston, also harbors an affinity for his new team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s really a dream coming true for any player, any Latin player that grew up watching Boston, watching Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Tim Wakefield, Curt Schilling. At this point in my career, I was really surprised about this move,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Contreras should be a key cog in the middle of Boston\u2019s lineup, with Alex Cora noting at Boston\u2019s Fenway Fest event on Saturday that he envisions the veteran serving as the team\u2019s cleanup hitter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWillson\u2019s going to bring a lot,\u201d Cora told MassLive\u2019s Sean McAdam<\/a>. \u201cHe hits the ball hard. It\u2019s a good at-bat. He drives the ball to right-center, but last year, he pulled the ball a little more than usual, which is awesome for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contreras \u2014 who batted .257 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI last season \u2014 should be poised to dole out plenty of damage batting in the No. 4 spot in Boston\u2019s order.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a fun spot,\u201d Contreras said of batting cleanup. \u201cIt has a lot of responsibility. But I know probably the guy behind me is gonna have my back. The same as the guy in front of me, I\u2019m gonna try to have his back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.<\/p>\n

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