Maybe it should've already happened, but better late than never: Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras has officially been named an AL All-Star for the 2026 season.
Contreras is set to replace Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the roster after he already announced he would skip out on playing in the game this year. Additionally, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is replacing him as the team's starter, meaning Contreras is still just a reserve.
Willson Contreras has been named to the American League All-Star team!
— MLB (@MLB) July 7, 2026
He replaces Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the roster. Nick Kurtz will start at first base for the AL. pic.twitter.com/flXjICiFhW
Willson Contreras absolutely deserves an All-Star selection
A lot of things have gone wrong for the Red Sox this year. They are eight games under .500 and have dealt with notable injuries to players like Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony (who have each been out of action for multiple months with no concrete timetable for their return).
But there have been some silver linings for Boston, and Contreras may be the biggest one.
The Red Sox acquired Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals last offseason, and he's arguably been their best player all year. Through his first 86 games in Boston, the Venezuelan native is hitting .284 with 20 HRs and 59 RBIs (he leads the team in HRs and RBIs, and his batting average leads the team among all qualified batters). And, for those who care, his 3.6 WAR is tied for best on the team with Ceddanne Rafael and is seventh-best among all American League players.
Contreras is in the midst of what could be the best season for him in the majors, and that's saying something. Before this year, he was a three-time All-Star with the Chicago Cubs (where he also won a World Series during his first MLB season) and was more than solid during his time with the Cardinals.
The 34-year-old has been one of the best first baseman in the AL all season long (and probably deserved the nod over Guerrero - who is batting .263 with four HRs and 35 RBIs - to begin with), and it's only fitting that he gets this recognition for that.
The Red Sox shouldn't sell Willson Contreras at the deadline
It still remains to be seen what Boston is going to do at the deadline.
On one hand, they are last in the AL East and have mostly struggled all season long. But at the same time, they are just four games back of the third and final Wild Card spot and have been finding their groove.
If the Red Sox do ultimately decide to sell and move on from their veterans (Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, maybe even Jarren Duran), they should still keep Contreras around. He's been one of their lone bright spots, and he also fills a need that they don't seem to have a Plan B for.
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