Contreras calls out Cubs' effort in loss vs. Cards: 'Everybody was distracted'

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras wasn't impressed with his team's effort during Saturday's 6-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

"No, I don't (think it was a good effort), to be honest," he said, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. "I feel like everybody was off. Everybody was distracted. I don't know why. Probably because the All-Star break is really close. Tomorrow is the last game of the first half. I don't think that way."

The Cubs beat the Cardinals on Friday but have lost 13 of their last 15 games. Chicago is tied with St. Louis for third in the NL Central with a 44-46 record.

"I cannot ask everybody to play like I do, or to play like (Javier Baez) and I play," Contreras added, according to Bastian. "Everybody's different. I know they might be tired, but I'm here to win. I'm here to win. I'm here to compete. That's what I'd like to have from everybody else."

Several Cubs players have been the subject of trade rumors dating back to at least this past offseason. Baez, Anthony Rizzo, and Kris Bryant are all set to be free agents at season's end, while Contreras and closer Craig Kimbrel have also been mentioned as potential trade chips.

"There's a lot going on," Contreras said, per Bastian. "There's a lot of things that I would like to say, but I'd rather keep it to myself than say it. That's it."