SAN ANTONIO — As part of the discussion with the club about how he wanted to stay in St. Louis, the Cardinals are electing to move Willson Contreras on the field to clear playing time for a pair of young players.
Contreras will split a majority of his time in the coming season at first base or designated hitter, Cardinals exec John Mozeliak said Wednesday at the General Manager Meetings.
"Having him play more first, more DH," Mozeliak said. "By doing so, we think from an offensive standpoint it strengthens us. ... Our medical team recommended it. If he really wants to extend his career, they feel it will be best for him. Catching is a demanding position. I do think, as we look to the future this gives us the best opportunity to give these younger players that chance."
Mozeliak was asked if Contreras is no longer a catcher.
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"I would say very unlikely to see him behind the plate," Mozeliak answered.
Less than a week after the Cardinals dropped salaries from 2025 by declining the options on three pitchers, the description of their plan with Contreras is the first of the offseason that gives a window into their on-field plans for 2025. Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages will be the catching tandem for the Cardinals, pending an unexpected or yet-to-develop trade.Â
Alec Burleson offers a left-handed hitting complement at first base for Contreras, and Mozeliak suggested that one would be the DH when both are in the lineup.
That frees up the priority spot at Class AAA Memphis for Jimmy Crooks at catcher, as the Post-Dispatch has previously reported would happen.
Contreras is one of four veteran players who have no-trade protection, joining starter Sonny Gray, third baseman Nolan Arenado, and right-hander Miles Mikolas. Mozeliak said he has spoken with all four players about the direction the Cardinals are taking to get feedback from them on if they want to remain with the club and be a part of the "reset."
Since the end of the season, Contreras directly expressed his wish to stay in St. Louis with the club and others.
Moving to first base dovetails with Contreras' wish to remain with the Cardinals and the Cardinals' stated goal of opening playing time for younger players.
"We anticipated carrying three catchers regardless," Mozeliak said. "We think for his career we think he'll be better off doing the first base/DH model."
Contreras, who will turn 33 in the coming season, hit .262 with a .380 on-base percentage and a team-best .848 OPS. He was limited to 84 games by two fractured bones. A bat shattered his forearm while he was catching, and he was hit by a pitch late in the season that ended his year with a fractured finger. The first injury, which took place as he reached to receive a pitch, came just as he was making a push to be an All-Star at catcher.
Contreras is entering the third year of a five-year, $87.5-million deal with the Cardinals that he signed after Yadier Molina's retirement. Contreras openly said he was intrigued by following Molina as the Cardinals' catcher, and he paid tribute to Molina with the cleats he wore on his first opening day.
He has been limited to 148 games at catcher in two seasons with the Cardinals due to injuries and the team's clunky and ultimately brief move of him to DH early in the 2023 season.
Contreras has played 11 games at first base in his big-league career, started four of them, and manned the position for a total of 51 1/3 innings.
Mozeliak cautioned that there are still months before opening day and that decisions could shift depending on the direction the Cardinals go with trades. Those conversations are likely to accelerate in the coming weeks as the Cardinals spent a lot of time this week at the GM Meetings interviewing for their open positions in the front office and player development.
Much more coverage from San Antonio and the GM Meetings coming Wednesday evening and in the pages of Thursday's Post-Dispatch.
