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Last week, prior to the MLB trade deadline, the Cardinals first baseman stood in front of his locker in the home clubhouse at Busch Stadium and proclaimed he wasn’t getting traded. The five-year contract he signed prior to the 2023 season included a no-trade clause, and as he put it last week, “I’m going to stay here. I’m not going nowhere.�

Contreras, 33, originally signed to step into the legendary shoes left by franchise icon as the club’s starting catcher. This season, his third in St. Louis, Contreras moved to first base to create a path for the club’s younger catchers Pedro Pages and Ivan Herrera to play every day and take responsibility for handling the pitching staff.

Contreras still carries a chip on his shoulder due to the widespread doubts from fans and media about this current group’s ability to contend going back to last winter.

He wants to believe he can provide a positive influence through his play and his presence. He’s also still buying into the idea of being one of the catalysts for the Cardinals returning to the top of the National League Central.

“I just want to do my best here,� Contreras said. “I don’t think I’ve done enough for me to leave the city yet. I like the challenges. ... The only thing I can control is how I perform on the field and how I treat my teammates and how this clubhouse stays with the good vibes.�

Contreras, who began his career with the rival Chicago Cubs, has proven himself bold, outspoken and brash at times.

He has fed off disdain and contempt from opposing teams and opposing fan bases. He doesn’t mind getting under the skin of the opposition, whether it’s taking advantage of and manipulating pitch timer rules to rattle an opposing pitcher — and serve as prime examples — or exchanging some colorful language with opposing players on the field and sparking a benches-clearing incident or two.

He doesn’t bite his tongue often. In the final weeks of last season, he even spoke critically about the approach the Cardinals front office and John Mozeliak were taking.

So it’s no surprise that he answered bluntly and honestly about how he views his situation as a veteran player on a rebuilding Cardinals team.

“I already have my World Series ring,� Contreras said. “That’s one thing that most players are seeking. I was blessed enough to have my World Series ring my first year in the big leagues.

“And I’m not saying that business isn’t business, but as of right now, I’m going to stay here with the team. Like I said, I love challenges. This is one of the bigger challenges I’ve ever faced.�

What if he didn’t already have that World Series checked off his list of professional goals? Would that change how he viewed things?

Again, Contreras responded unabashedly when I posed the question.

“If I didn’t have it? For sure, I would talk and say, ‘Yes, trade me to somewhere that they have a chance to win,’� Contreras said. “But if you look around at what teams are close to getting to a World Series, they’re already stacked. They’re already packed.�

Contreras had seemingly given the idea some consideration. Not only are the top contenders already loaded, but he reasoned that it would be hard to go somewhere new. He wouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable, and he’d have to try to create relationships in the middle of the season.

So thanks to his no-trade clause, he gets to assert control over his situation. The Cardinals can’t move him without his consent.

What if the Cardinals rebuild looks like it might take multiple years before they contend? Then what?

“We’ll see when that comes, but for me to accept a trade, I think I’m going to have a couple of requests first,� said Contreras.

He declined to elaborate on those requests.

In the meantime, he remains committed to trying to make an impact in St. Louis.

The Cardinals fell below .500 during their weekend series on the road against the San Diego Padres. They dropped two of the three games.

The Cardinals hadn’t fallen below the break-even line since May 6, but they went into this week’s series against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers with a record of 56-57.

Contreras slashed .241/.323/.379 with six home runs, 10 doubles and 30 RBIs through the first 54 games of this season but has been the club’s hottest hitter since that point.

In his last 53 games heading into the LA series, he’d slashed .271/.362/.516 with nine home runs, 19 doubles and 33 RBIs.

He entered Monday leading the team in home runs (15), doubles (29), total bases (174), extra-base hits (44), RBIs (63) and times hit by a pitch (17).

“We’re still fighting,� Contreras said. “I love the fight my teammates are putting out. I love the doubt that people have in us, for sure. We might not win this year, but I’m still here and I’m going to enjoy it.�

Contreras will also enjoy knowing that he holds the cards as far as how his future will play out in St. Louis.