Willson Contreras has made headlines with his bold comments about the New York Yankees, just as he prepares for his inaugural season with the Boston Red Sox. "I’m not coming to Boston just to like the Yankees, because that’s not going to happen," he asserted, making it clear where his loyalties lie.
Recently acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals, Contreras is expected to inject some much-needed right-handed power into the Red Sox lineup while also providing veteran leadership within the team’s locker room. This former World Series champion is not just a player; he’s someone who is passionate about winning and has the intensity to match.
"I consider myself to be a winner, to be a gamer," Contreras expressed during a Zoom call with reporters. "I think Boston has a lot of good things around the team. … If you play against me and you don’t like me, that’s fine with me, but at some point if we play together, you’re going to love me. I play to win; I don’t play to mess around or make friends on other teams."
Contreras' fiery spirit and competitive nature make him likely to resonate well with the Red Sox fans, while simultaneously establishing himself as a formidable opponent for their biggest rival, the Yankees.
"The Yankees are a really good team with talented players, but I’m not coming to Boston just to like the Yankees, because that’s not going to happen," he reiterated. "They’re probably going to start hating me whenever we play against each other, but I’m going to play with fire and emotion, showing them that we can win."
The Red Sox clearly recognize the value Contreras brings to the squad, as evidenced by their willingness to trade away Hunter Dobbins and pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita to secure the 33-year-old infielder. Notably, Contreras had to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate this move, indicating his enthusiasm for joining Boston.
"I think it’s really a dream coming true for any player, especially any Latin player who grew up watching Boston, admiring legends like Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Tim Wakefield, and Curt Schilling. At this stage in my career, I was genuinely surprised by this move," Contreras shared.
In terms of lineup strategy, Contreras is set to become a pivotal player for the Red Sox. Manager Alex Cora mentioned at the recent Fenway Fest event that he envisions the veteran as the team’s cleanup hitter. "Willson’s going to bring a lot," Cora explained to MassLive’s Sean McAdam. "He hits the ball hard. It’s 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."
Last season, Contreras boasted a batting average of .257, along with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs, making him a significant threat to opposing pitchers while batting in the fourth position of the Red Sox lineup.
"I think it’s a fun spot to bat in," Contreras commented on his new role. "It carries a lot of responsibility. But I know the guy behind me will have my back, and just like the guy in front of me, I’m going to do my best to support him as well."
Conor Ryan is a staff writer at Boston.com, covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox—an engagement he's maintained since 2023.
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