Reports: Contreras, Cardinals agree to 5-year, $87.5 million deal

When he rejected the Cubs' $19.65 million qualifying offer in early November, Willson Contreras hit the free-agent market.

One team in particular figured to have a strong interest, and the pairing is almost complete.

According to multiple reports, Contreras signed a five-year, $87.5 million contract with the rival Cardinals Wednesday. The deal won't be officially announced until the 30-year-old Contreras passes a physical.

St. Louis had an obvious need at catcher after Yadier Molina retired after 19 seasons with the Cardinals.

Contreras and St. Louis met before this week's winter meetings.

"We talked about loving winning and this is a guy that loves to win, who wakes up thinking about it, goes to sleep thinking about it," St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol told reporters. "And we've seen that quite a bit across the way. He's a guy you don't want to compete against because you know he's pretty good. He's a great competitor and we respect his game."

Since Contreras rejected the qualifying offer, the Cubs get the Cardinals' second highest draft choice in 2023 as compensation.

Unable to work out a contract extension, Contreras knew in spring training this was very likely his final year with the Cubs.

"The time will come," he said. "Probably will become a free agent, probably not. Who knows? I won the (2016) World Series with the Chicago Cubs and that's something that nobody can take away from me. I'll be proud all of my life because I won with this team."

While making the National League all-star team for the third time this year, Contreras hit .243/.349/.466 with 22 home runs and 55 RBI in 113 games.

Over seven seasons with the Cubs, Contreras slashed .256/.349/.466 with 117 homers and 365 RBI.