10:58am: Manager Oli Marmol confirmed to the teams beat that Contreras is done for the season ( ). The expectation is that rest will allow Contreras strain to heal, and the team did not want to risk him playing through the i sue and further aggravating it. 10:43am: The Cardinals announced Wednesday that first baseman has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain. Infielder is up from Triple-A Memphis to take his spot on the roster. While theres technically still enough time on the calendar for him to return for the teams final series (the IL move is retroactive to yesterday), Katie Woo of The Athletic that this IL placement will end the season for Contreras. Avisail Garcia Jersey A suming thats the case, its been yet another solid year for the 33-year-old Contreras. The catcher-turned-first-baseman hit .257/.344/.447 (123 wRC+) with 20 homers, 31 doubles and a triple in 563 turns at the plate. His first full year at a new position has generally gone well, too. Defensive Runs Saved (+1) and Statcasts Outs Above Average (+6) both feel that Contreras has been not only pa sable at first base but better than average. One would imagine that his defensive chops could continue to improve as he further acclimates to his new home on the diamond, though hell also play next season at age 34, so therell be a give-and-take between Contreras getting more experience at first base but also slowing down as he ages into his mid-30s. Contreras joined the Cardinals in the 2022-23 offseason, signing a five-year, $87.5MM contract in free agency. Hes still guaranteed $41.5MM over the remaining two seasons of that contract, which will be paid out in the form of an $18MM salary in 2026, an $18.5MM salary in 2027 and a $5MM buyout on a $17.5MM club option for the 2028 campaign. If he continues to play quality defense at first base and produce like he has at the plate through the first three seasons of this contract, theres a good chance the Cards would exercise that option, given that its a net $12.5MM decision once factoring in the buyout. Itll be another offseason punctuated by rumblings about potential trades of veterans in St. Louis this winter. candidly as much this week, and The Athletics Ken Rosenthal suggested just yesterday that s name is likely to pop up in offseason rumors as well. Contreras has complete control over his own fate, however, by virtue of the full no-trade clause that was negotiated into that free agent contract. Contreras made clear last offseason that he wasnt keen on waiving that clause, so its fair to expect thatll be the case again this offseason as well. Its always po sible that trades of other players on the roster and/or changes to the coaching staff could lead to a change of heart, but theres been no indication thus far that Contreras would green-light a trade out of St. Louis. Eli Villalobos Jersey