ST. LOUIS — In a turbulent MLB winter, as trade speculation swirls around Winter Meetings, Willson Contreras — the St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman — has frankly stated that his heart remains with the Cardinals, even as the decision of his future looms large.
Rumors about the New York Mets approaching the Cardinals for a trade involving Contreras have caused a stir in the baseball world. According to several reliable sources, the Mets are looking to fill the void left by Pete Alonso, and they are said to have contacted the Cardinals about the possibility of bringing Contreras to NYC.
But contrary to fans’ expectations or fears, Contreras remains unfazed by that scenario. In a recent exchange with the Cardinals’ management, he made it clear: “I know I have the right to decide my own future, but my heart is still with the Cardinals. This team and the fans here — I want to be a part of this journey.”
This wasn’t just empty talk. Contreras has no intention of leaving the current roster, and he even refused to voluntarily give up his no-trade clause — something many players would consider if faced with interest from a major team like the Mets.
At 33, Contreras has proven himself not only a formidable hitter but also a moral pillar in the locker room. In the 2025 season, he played 135 games for the Cardinals, recording 20 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a consistent .791 OPS, showing he’s still the MVP-like bat any team would dream of.
In the past, Contreras has faced many challenges: from years as a starting catcher to a transition to first base—a decision to prolong his career after serious injuries—and he has adapted impressively to the new role.
His choice to stay in St. Louis, rather than leave the Cardinals in a lucrative trade, marks a distinctly different turning point compared to many modern MLB stars. An insider shared: “Clearly Willson loves the organization; that can’t be taken lightly.”
Rumors that Contreras might leave the Cardinals aren’t isolated incidents: the Mets are looking for a replacement after Pete Alonso signed a big contract with another team and a number of key players like Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz left.
Many experts believe that if MLB Trade Rumors were true, the Mets would have to make a large trade for Contreras — something the Cardinals would have to carefully consider given his locker room value and experience.
But Contreras — a three-time All-Star — chose to remain loyal to the Cardinals rather than pursue fame or a new playoff roster. This caused a frenzy among both the Baseball Twitter community and Cardinals fans, who called it “the biggest heartwarming act of this winter.”
Sources close to the St. Louis leadership said they were “breathing a sigh of relief” over Contreras’s announcement. Chaim Bloom, the newly appointed President of Baseball Operations, was described as “moved by Contreras’s impact” on the young roster the Cardinals are building.
If the Cardinals take the gamble they’ve started — toward a more physically robust team in the coming years — Contreras will be a “witness” and “spiritual pillar” to that ambition.
While baseball as a whole is constantly on the move with rumors and potential trades, Willson Contreras has stopped, looked straight ahead, and told the world that his heart remains in St. Louis. A rare decision in an age where superstars move like the wind… and it may well be the most beautiful memory of this winter for Cardinals fans.
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