Willson Contreras could give Red Sox's porous defense a boost

Contreras credits one of the best defensive shortstops ever for helping him make the transition from catcher to first base.

Feb. 15, 2026 at 2:55am

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When the Boston Red Sox traded for first baseman Willson Contreras, they did so to add more power. The fact that he finished last year as one of the league's best defensive first basemen didn't hurt either. Contreras, who spent the first nine years of his career primarily as a catcher with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, transitioned to first base last season and excelled.

Why it matters

Strengthening the infield defense has been a longstanding priority for the Red Sox. Their infield posted minus-21 Outs Above Average last season, and the Red Sox had 116 errors as a team, the most in the majors, after committing the second-most errors in MLB the previous two seasons. The addition of Contreras, alongside a healthy Trevor Story at shortstop and two strong defensive infielders in Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer at the other two infield spots, will be key to solving the team's defensive difficulties.

The details

Contreras put in a lot of work with Cardinals field coordinator Stubby Clapp when he made the transition to first base last spring, but he also took advice from one of the best defensive players in the history of the game: Ozzie Smith. Smith, a Hall of Famer who played 15 seasons for St. Louis, visited Cardinals camp last spring and offered some insight to the new infielder. Contreras said Smith's advice on footwork helped him the most.

  • Contreras transitioned to first base last season.
  • Contreras expects to play for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic at the end of February.

The players

Willson Contreras

A first baseman for the Boston Red Sox who spent the first nine years of his career primarily as a catcher with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.

Ozzie Smith

A Hall of Famer who played 15 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals and is one of the best defensive shortstops ever.

Stubby Clapp

The Cardinals' field coordinator who worked with Contreras on his transition to first base.

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox and a former big-league infielder.

Triston Casas

A Red Sox player who is continuing his rehab from a ruptured patellar tendon.

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What they’re saying

“He showed up a couple of times during my workouts and explained some of the angles, some other stuff and I asked him a lot of questions, and that helped a lot.”

— Willson Contreras

“He's amazing, a 13-time Gold Glove winner, you need to listen. If you don't listen to that guy, you're playing the wrong sport.”

— Willson Contreras

“He said stay in your feet, don't stay flat-footed. Stay ready and ask any question. I said, 'Tell me anything you want me to do, I'll do it.' His advice, it was really helpful.”

— Willson Contreras

“I think just from being willing to listen, to ask any questions, listen to people that played there before, there's no stupid question for me.”

— Willson Contreras

“He's a good athlete, he moves well. They did a good job with him last year (in St. Louis).”

— Alex Cora, Manager, Boston Red Sox

What’s next

Contreras is still waiting to be cleared by the insurance company to play for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic at the end of February.

The takeaway

Willson Contreras' transition from catcher to first base, with the help of advice from Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, could provide a significant defensive boost for the Boston Red Sox, who have struggled with infield errors in recent seasons. His addition, along with other strong defensive players, aims to shore up the team's porous infield defense.