Potential Action Necessary for Willson Contreras Due to Ongoing Problems
The Struggling St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras:
The St. Louis Cardinals' 2025 season has been an exciting one, but one player's performance has stood out for the wrong reasons. Willson Contreras, a key player for the team, is off to a rough start, batting a paltry .093 with just 4 hits in 43 at-bats.
Broadcast commentator Brad Thompson has pointed out that Contreras is finding it hard to connect with pitches that break away from him, which aligns with the statistics showing he's missed 47.2% of breaking balls he's faced.
Contreras was moved from behind the plate to first base this season to ease some pressure. This change, coupled with his more toned physique, had many Redbird Rants writers expecting a breakout year.
What Will the Cardinals Do if Contreras' Problems Continue?
In 2023, the Cardinals demonstrated they're not shy about making drastic moves when expectations aren't met. They benchmarked Contreras as a full-time designated hitter just a month into the season before returning him to his familiar spot behind the plate a week later. Given the team's history, it's plausible they might take action again, whether it's repositioning him in the lineup or giving him more rest days.
First base is a crowded position in St. Louis, with players like Alec Burleson and Luken Baker also on the major league roster. If the Cardinals are serious about their "retool," they could provide more opportunities for Burleson and Baker at first base and designated hitter, potentially at the expense of Contreras. However, given the $87.5 million contract they've committed to Contreras, it seems likely he'll continue getting on-field time.
It's still early in the season, and some players may need time to find their rhythm. The Cardinals' younger core may be given more opportunities to step up, but it's too early to write off Contreras entirely. For instance, Masyn Winn, who also had a slow start, has since shown signs of improvement with a 9-for-17 stretch.
As the season progresses, Contreras should find his groove, but in case he doesn't, the Cardinals have a solid contingency plan. They can turn to hitting adjustments, positional and lineup tweaks, roster moves, mental performance coaching, or even explore trade options if necessary. But for now, they'll likely focus on helping him refine his plate discipline and leverage the new coaching they've brought in.
- Despite Contreras' struggle with a low batting average and difficulty with breaking balls, it's possible the Cardinals might reposition him in the lineup or give him more rest days, as they demonstrated a willingness to make drastic moves in 2023.
- Given the crowded first base position in St. Louis with players like Alec Burleson and Luken Baker also on the major league roster, if the Cardinals are serious about their "retool," they could provide more opportunities for Burleson and Baker at first base and designated hitter, potentially at the expense of Contreras.
- Although it's still early in the season, and some players may need time to find their rhythm, the Cardinals have a solid contingency plan for Contreras, which includes hitting adjustments, positional and lineup tweaks, roster moves, mental performance coaching, or even exploring trade options if necessary.
- In the future, if Contreras fails to find his groove, the Cardinals have a variety of strategies to help him improve his plate discipline and overall performance, including the new coaching they've recently brought in.
