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Just a few weeks ago, the Boston Red Sox looked like they would almost certainly be one of big sellers at the 2026 MLB trade deadline.
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At the forefront of this talk was one of their biggest chips, first baseman Willson Contreras. The 34-year-old got off to a blazing start with his new team, launching 20 home runs and leading the Red Sox in nearly every hitting stat in the first half to earn his fourth career All-Star appearance.
Some argued that trading Contreras now made the most sense, as selling high could net a serious return of prospects that better fit the timeline of Boston’s young roster. But on the other side was a recognition that his impact goes deeper than just what he does on the field, and that losing the new leader of the clubhouse would not be worth another roll of the dice for young talent.
Now, the team is on a torrid run that was in many ways sparked by Contreras. After claiming Game 1 against the Yankees at Fenway Park, the righty slugger put his team on top early in Game 2 with an RBI base hit and a solo homer in his first two at-bats.
Willson Contreras goes over the Green Monster and the Red Sox lead the Yankees 4-0!
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/uP5VB9lFEZ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 26, 2026
In his third, he unabashedly crowded the plate against New York’ pitcher’s starter Will Warren, eventually working a walk and barking at him all the way down the line. As the teams poured out of their dugouts to diffuse the situation, it became clear that Contreras was calling on his teammates to match his fire to get their season turned around.
Since the start of that series, the Red Sox have rattled off 14 wins in 16 games, riding a nine-game winning streak into the All-Star break. Contreras has had an eventful two weeks since then himself, getting ejected on back-to-back nights, serving a four-game suspension, and participating in the Home Run Derby.
With the results now showing up on the field and Boston’s front office considering switching gears for the deadline, it would be shocking to see the club move on from the star slugger.
Contreras touched on this possibility during an All-Star media appearance Monday night, telling the Section 10 Podcast that he “loves” playing in Boston and wants to stay.
“I just like it, I just love it there,” he said. “And I told them too, I was like ‘man just leave me here. I want to stay here.'”
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“Boston to me has been the best. The fans, the team, the front office, my teammates, I wouldn’t change a thing from Boston.”
Contreras holds a full no-trade clause, which he waived once before to come to the Red Sox, and would need to grant approval to be moved. And while it appears he doesn’t want to, he has seemingly become an indispensable piece of the team’s fabric. Losing him would also risk losing their newfound heart and energy.
“We’re not where we want to be, but we are on our way there,” Contreras added. “The team has a really good chemistry, and the energy is there, and the guys they have been calling up from Triple-A are doing a great job. They’re willing to listen, willing to work out, and they’re willing to leave their heart on the field which that’s what we want.”
“Just leave me here. I want to stay here.”
Willson Contreras talks about how much he’s loved playing in Boston so far pic.twitter.com/CbqS9lpxuL
— Section 10 Podcast (@Section10Pod) July 13, 2026
Contreras is one of three Red Sox in Philadelphia for the All-Star Game alongside Aroldis Chapman and Ceddanne Rafaela. He put on a strong showing in the Home Run Derby, smiling through boos to hit a first-round-best 13 home runs including a 490-foot shot before bowing out in the second round to former teammate Kyle Schwarber by a score of 9-8.
Contreras, who was given the nickname Bowser early on by his Red Sox teammates, was asked to donate the unique bat he used in the Derby to the Baseball Hall of Fame where it will be put on display.
How cool was Willson Contreras’ Bowser bat?
The @RedSox slugger is donating his #HRDerby lumber to the Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/HSSStjRhf8
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (@baseballhall) July 14, 2026
Amid the All-Star week festivities, former big leaguer Carlos Baerga summed up Contreras’s influence as he walked by a media session in a quote relayed by MLB.com’s Ian Browne.
“That’s the guy who woke Boston up!”
There is still a hill to climb for the Red Sox waiting in the second half. But now driven by a powerful engine in Contreras, the team has shown the fight necessary to make it happen.
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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 8:23 AM.