Willson Contreras spent seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, helping them win the 2016 World Series and break the franchise’s long drought. He was an All-Star in three of those seasons, including 2022 as one of the best catchers in baseball.
But free agency saw him move to a rival in the National League Central: the St. Louis Cardinals. Since he joined the new organization, the 30-year-old has loved everything about the Cardinals.
In fact, when asked to compare the two organizations, he didn’t hold back.
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Willson Contreras of the Cubs celebrates his grand slam off Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Bryse Wilson on May 16, 2022 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
«For me, I like this better. It’s a better organization,» Contreras said via Bally Sports Midwest. «we’re almost [have] Like old school, which I love. That’s something I really like. I already spoke to the manager about it, how is there a [good] culture here. Ever since I got here, everything has been one way, the Cardinal way, and I have to adjust to it. It is not so difficult. Do everything right and respect each other. That’s all.»
Contreras saw the absolute ups and downs when he was in Chicago, beginning with that championship year in 2016. Contreras was only in his first year with the team when they had Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Aroldis Chapman and others who made a great run to glory. of the postseason.
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But in the years that followed, the Cubs slowly slipped down the power rankings in MLB. Then-general manager Theo Epstein gave it his all to break the Cubs’ drought without a World Series title, and once it was complete, many saw decline coming. It didn’t happen right away, as the Cubs returned to the NLCS in 2017, where they would lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Since then, the Cubs have made two wild card games, only to lose both. Over the past two seasons, the Cubs have been well under .500 going 74-88 in 2022 and 71-91 in 2021.
Cubs teammates, from left, Willson Contreras, Aroldis Chapman and Anthony Rizzo celebrate after Game 5 of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians on Oct. 30, 2016, in Chicago. (AP)
That turned the Cubs into sellers, which is never what players want to see from an organization because that means they have no postseason hope in the offing. Contreras was among those involved in the trade rumors, and while Bryant and Rizzo eventually found new homes, Contreras held out until the end when he was ready to hit free agency.
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Now with the Cardinals, Contreras is expected to be a power hitter who can also play a constant behind the plate. Much has been said about his defensive abilities, including his framing ability, which is statistically inferior to others in the league (25th percentile). according to Baseball Savant), but improvements can always be made. St. Louis is also expected to complete for the NL Central title.
Willson Contreras poses during St. Louis Cardinals Picture Day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 23, 2023 in Jupiter, Florida. (Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Division rivals, Contreras will be back at Wrigley Field this season, but he may not get the kind applause of the Cubs faithful when he takes the field after these comments.