Gabe Simonds, writing for Viva El Birdos, has the story about the future of First Base on the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals had something of a unique problem entering the 2025 season. They had Willson Contreras under contract for 3 years, $59.5 million with a fourth-year club option (the buyout is factored into that 3-year price). They had Ivan Herrera, out of options and with a 127 wRC+, entering his age 25 season. And lastly, Pedro Pages, who the club clearly prefers defensively over Herrera. How do you keep all three on the MLB roster?

We have our answer. It’s not to trade one of them. It’s to play Willson Contreras at 1B. Among first basemen, Contreras’ 140 wRC+ would have been the 3rd best in baseball, behind just Vladmir Guerrero Jr. and Bryce Harper. Yes, he had a better hitting line than Freddie Freeman last season. His bat absolutely plays at 1B.

If you go back three years, Willson Contreras has a combined 133 wRC+, which matches Matt Olson’s bat the past three seasons. Olson is one of just five 1B with a 133 wRC+ or better among qualified 1B over the past three years. Contreras can even decline with the bat and still match his new brethren. Just nine 1B since 2022 have been better than Contreras’ career 121 wRC+. If his bat doesn’t fall off a cliff and there’s not really any reason to think it would yet, Contreras would be a top 10 hitting 1B in baseball.

I think this is a fantastic move. I loved Paul Goldschmidt, but he needs a new environment with a club like the Yankees to round out his career. There’s no way Contreras will match the defense the Cardinals received from Goldy at first base. Still, I think it remains to be seen how this goes. The Cardinals need his bat in the lineup; this is the best option. He will eventually be the full-time DH, so this is a great stop-gap.

It also looks like Sonny Gray is staying in St. Louis, too.