I guess this move precludes the Red Sox from bugging Chris Getz to trade them Murakami all spring. 

 

BREAKING: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2025

 

Red Sox to Getz, be like: you could of had a bad b****, noncommittal, I could have helped your roster, just a little

 

Red Sox sending RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Yhoiker Fajardo and RHP Blake Aita to Cardinals in deal for William Contreras, source tells @TheAthletic

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 22, 2025

 

Edited December 22, 2025Dec 22 by WestEddy

46 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I guess this move precludes the Red Sox from bugging Chris Getz to trade them Murakami all spring. 

 

 

No more obvious proof that the Red Sox were probably the other finalist for Murakami’s services.  That’s a good sign at least.

28 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Red Sox to Getz, be like: you could of had a bad b****, noncommittal, I could have helped your roster, just a little

 

 

I’m guessing Cam Booser couldn’t have been substituted for Fajardo in this trade.  🤦🏻‍♂️ 

Hopefully he is more Pasqua and less Palka…

Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP
Age: 19

The White Sox signed Fajardo for $400,000 out of Venezuela in 2024, then dealt him to the Red Sox for reliever Cam Booser prior to 2025. Fajardo broke out with the Red Sox this past season and ranked ninth in their system entering 2026. Fajardo throws a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup with above-average control. Fajardo’s fastball sits 93-95 mph with below-average ride, but it’s an average pitch because of his velocity and command. His mid-80s gyro slider misses bats with unusually low spin. Fajardo’s upper-80s changeup has good separation from his fastball with good whiff and chase rates in 2025. Fajardo has back-end starter upside.

baseballamerica.com

16 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I’m guessing Cam Booser couldn’t have been substituted for Fajardo in this trade.  🤦🏻‍♂️ 

lol. I just noticed Fajardo was in the deal. Actually a pretty good return for STL rather than a pure salary dump.

18 minutes ago, nrockway said:

lol. I just noticed Fajardo was in the deal. Actually a pretty good return for STL rather than a pure salary dump.

The Cardinals are also sending $8 million to the Red Sox in the deal.

Well, that probably takes Benintendi to the A's for Severino off the table

 

Trade news: The A’s are acquiring second baseman Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2025

 

17 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Well, that probably takes Benintendi to the A's for Severino off the table

 

 

Could free up salary for the Mets to take Robert though.

1 minute ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Could free up salary for the Mets to take Robert though.

Yep, reallocate the resources

Mets going all 2023/24 White Sox, excising almost all of their veteran leader core in terms of position players except for Lindor and Soto...who supposedly detest or even hate each other.

Maybe it's Magglio CLee and Valentin out in 2004 for the Sox and restructuring around Lindor/Soto with young pitching and all that freed up $$$.

1 hour ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

Maybe I'm wrong but the finances of baseball seem pretty healthy if this sort of deal is happening. No 2027 lockout necessary.

I also saw earlier that the Red Sox are reportedly out on Marte after the Contreras deal

17 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Maybe I'm wrong but the finances of baseball seem pretty healthy if this sort of deal is happening. No 2027 lockout necessary.

I agree it is not necessary, but the owners are going to do it anyway in a bizarre attempt for the nth time to try to get a salary cap.

It will work out just like all the other times too! 

A's have a handshake agreement to increase payroll to at least $100 million for revenue sharing exception.

Edited December 23, 2025Dec 23 by caulfield12

Rob Refsnyder to Mariners

$6.25-6.5 million (incentives)

big salary jump

Edited December 23, 2025Dec 23 by caulfield12

Source confirms: Ryan O’Hearn in agreement with Pirates on two-year, $29M contract. First @ByRobertMurray

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 23, 2025

4 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Yeah I'd rather gamble on Murakami for like $10 million more. Pirates were in on him as well. 

15 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Knew he was going to get overpaid.  $40 million for Murakami after the posting fee is a better gamble for a potential star.  O’Hearn is 32 and definitely not that guy.

4 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Knew he was going to get overpaid.  $40 million for Murakami after the posting fee is a better gamble for a potential star.  O’Hearn is 32 and definitely not that guy.

Maybe the O'Hearn signing makes the Reds a bit more eager to get Robert done. 

First multi-year deal for Pirates since '16. Largest ever to a position player. Most intriguing

They shouldn't be done. Go extend Konnor Griffin. Build out the bullpen. Maybe another bat or starting pitcher depth. Lot of options.

But first and foremost, Ryan O'Hearn helps.

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) December 23, 2025

Edited December 23, 2025Dec 23 by WestEddy

6 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Maybe the O'Hearn signing makes the Reds a bit more eager to get Robert done. 

Maybe they can still be in on Robert too