Blue Jays Cut Ties With 29-Year-Old Backstop Immediately Before Season’s End

The Toronto Blue Jays have recently cut ties with veteran backup catcher William Simoneit just two days before the end of the regular season. Simoneit, 29 years old, was brought into the organization during the offseason on a minor league contract, providing depth at the position. However, with established catchers Alejandro Kirk and rookie Brandon Valenzuela already contributing to the team, there was no longer a need to retain Simoneit.

The 29-year-old veteran catcher, who never made it to the majors with Toronto, had spent the entire 2026 season with the Buffalo Bisons, going .247/.330/.386 at the plate with a .716 OPS. His minor league career has included stints with the Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs, where he also played some first base.

Simoneit has expressed interest in exploring other opportunities as a free agent. The Blue Jays now have Kirk and Valenzuela as their primary catching options for the future, allowing them to focus on roster decisions for the offseason.