Contreras to Red Sox

[C-Unit]

So we've compiled two middling pitchers from the Red Sox now in swperate trades with them. I will be interested to see who else is in the package. For now, it looks like Dobbins is simply a piece to cover innings. Dobbins and Fitts are both valuable primarily for their years of control, but both with limited ceilings.

[DFW Cards Fan]

I’m just not sure how many pitching prospects we need that grade out with a ceiling at #3 starter and most likely are #4/5 SP or RP. I know it’s an odds/numbers game but surely at some point you have more of those than you want/need relative to other positions of interest.

[Melville]

I mean we already didn’t have any RH bats and now we lose our best one? Lol

This is about moving Herrera to 1B.

[cardinalsfever44]

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

[Idaho Cards]

Salary dump without paying part of salary next season.

[cardinalsfever44]

RHP Yhoiker Fajardo scouting report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Fajardo landed the largest bonus among Venezuelan pitchers on the 2024 international market, signing with the White Sox for $400,000. He made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, where he finished second in strikeout minus walk percentage (26 percent). After the Red Sox designated Cam Booser for assignment last December, they shipped him to Chicago in exchange for Fajardo.

Fajardo continually has added strength and velocity since turning pro, and he now works at 93-95 mph while touching 96 with his two-seam fastball and 97 with his four-seamer. He has a tight slider that ranges from 82-85 mph, and Boston is working with him on adding a sweepier version as well. He also has picked up an upper-80s kick-changeup very quickly, giving him the potential for at least solid offerings across the board.

More advanced than most 18-year-old pitchers, Fajardo needed just six outings this spring before earning a promotion to Single-A. He has thrown strikes throughout his pro career and commands his fastball well. Though he'll need time to develop, he's a potential mid-rotation starter.

[cardinalsfever44]

RHP Blake Aita Scouting Report:

Physical Description: Solid pitcher's frame. Sturdy lower half, but has some remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot, starting on the first base side of the rubber. Starts facing third base, then steps toward first while turning his upper body toward second before coming up with a high leg kick. Arm swing behind before coming to the plate. Has effort in delivery. Comes from a vertical approach angle that can be difficult for hitters. Medium-high leg kick. Hides the ball well behind.

Fastball: 92-95 mph. High spin rate. Solid command and control profile. Velocity ticked up in spring training 2025 after sitting in the 89-92 mph range in college. Potential above-average offering.

Sweeper: 80-82 mph. Long, horizontal shape. Extremely high spin rate, with some over 3200 RPM. Advanced feel and has shown strong bat-missing ability. Confident using against hitters from both sides of the plate.

Cutter: 86-89 mph. Cut-slider shape. High spin rate and solid feel.
Changeup: 85-89 mph. Primarily used against left-handed hitters. Will flash bat-missing ability.

Career Notes: Played for Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2023. Was teammates with current Red Sox pitcher Blake Wehunt in 2023. Named to the All-Atlantic Sun first team, academic team and tournament team in 2024. Selected as a draft-eligible sophomore.

Summation: Intriguing arm with the potential for two plus pitches and bat-missing ability with three. Will be developed as a starter as he shows solid feel to pitch and complete arsenal. Velocity has already ticked up in pro ball. Analytics darling coming out of college with advanced feel for spin. Secondary stuff is ahead of fastball, but all pitches have high spin rates and has already seen a velocity jump since college.

[Hoosier59]

Hunter Dobbins is the main piece coming back our way.

Swing man coming off an ACL tear. A solid return for our best hitter.

You forgot to use the blue font!

[Web7]

I mean we already didn’t have any RH bats and now we lose our best one? Lol

If it helps any, Donovan and Noot will probably be traded next so we won't have any left handed bats either

Sadly you are probably correct…. This organization is allergic to position players with actual talent.

[C-Unit]

RHP Yhoiker Fajardo scouting report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Fajardo landed the largest bonus among Venezuelan pitchers on the 2024 international market, signing with the White Sox for $400,000. He made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, where he finished second in strikeout minus walk percentage (26 percent). After the Red Sox designated Cam Booser for assignment last December, they shipped him to Chicago in exchange for Fajardo.

Fajardo continually has added strength and velocity since turning pro, and he now works at 93-95 mph while touching 96 with his two-seam fastball and 97 with his four-seamer. He has a tight slider that ranges from 82-85 mph, and Boston is working with him on adding a sweepier version as well. He also has picked up an upper-80s kick-changeup very quickly, giving him the potential for at least solid offerings across the board.

More advanced than most 18-year-old pitchers, Fajardo needed just six outings this spring before earning a promotion to Single-A. He has thrown strikes throughout his pro career and commands his fastball well. Though he'll need time to develop, he's a potential mid-rotation starter.

This looks like a high upside arm. I'll look forward to the day Yhoiker is a household name in St Louis.

[Jatalk]

This deal sucks.

[sdaltons]

Dobbins another instant favorite for shady?

[DFW Cards Fan]

A rotation of four #4s and one #5 with no great hitters is how we got in this mess to start with. I just don’t get stockpiling lots mediocre SP prospects.

[Hoosier59]

With all of Boston’s near MLB ready prospects, and those that are currently blocked, we get a maybe #5 starter and an 18 year old kid, who may never see the Bigs. Great!

[No-Mo-Mo]

This is all they can get for Contreras? Lolol

[vegascardsfan5890]

Red Sox cover 32.5 of the 40.5 mil owed