When Willson Contreras inked a five-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023, fans expected fireworks on the field. What they didn’t anticipate was the spark he’d light off it.
In a now-viral interview shortly after joining the Cardinals, Contreras delivered a statement that sent shockwaves through the NL Central: “For me, I like this better. It’s a better organization… Ever since I got here, it’s been everything just one way — the Cardinal way.”
The comments, aired during a segment on Bally Sports Midwest, were both a praise for his new team and, implicitly, a critique of the Chicago Cubs — the franchise where Contreras spent the first seven seasons of his MLB career and won a World Series in 2016.
His candid take didn’t sit well with Cubs fans, many of whom accused him of disrespecting the organization that gave him his big-league start. The comment became a flashpoint in an already heated Cardinals-Cubs rivalry, with each side rallying behind their man.
Yet months later, Contreras sought to cool the flames. During a Q&A session on Our Esquina, he admitted:
“It was something that I said without thinking… emotionally, not maturely. I don’t take it back because it was how I felt, but I do wish I had expressed it better.”
Still, Contreras has backed his words with performance. Now playing more frequently at first base and designated hitter, he’s remained a consistent offensive contributor, showing increased discipline and power at the plate. His on-field intensity hasn’t faded either — as seen in a June 26 matchup against the Cubs, when tensions boiled over after a hit-by-pitch incident that cleared both benches.
The Cardinals have embraced Contreras’s fire and leadership. Known for his emotional play and vocal presence, he’s become a clubhouse anchor in St. Louis, mirroring the culture he praised back in that controversial quote.
Though his early remarks ruffled feathers, they also signaled something deeper: a player who finally feels at home. And as the Cardinals aim to reclaim division dominance, they’ll lean on Contreras not just for his bat — but for his unwavering conviction in the organization he now calls “better.”