Toronto Blue Jays add another catcher as they sign former Phillies catcher

Feb 10, 2026 (9:12 PM)

Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

William Simoneit signing a minor league deal with Toronto brings vital catching depth and a wave of quiet optimism.

The catching position is an absolute grind that physically breaks down even the toughest and most durable athletes.

When unavoidable injuries strike behind the plate, a promising season can spiral out of control in a matter of days.

Ross Atkins knows perfectly well that relying on just two big-league catchers is a guaranteed recipe for an August disaster.

That is exactly why securing an experienced and reliable backstop for the minor league system is such a brilliant insurance policy.

Simoneit (Undrafted, 2020 by Athletics) is a 29-year-old grinder who knows exactly how to handle a professional pitching staff.

His challenging journey from going undrafted out of Wake Forest to battling through the minor leagues shows incredible personal resilience.

It takes a special kind of mental dedication to keep chasing the baseball dream through those brutal minor league bus rides.

This is the Blue Jays second former Phillies signing today as they agreed to a minor league deal with pitcher Philippe Aumont too.

There is a massive sense of relief knowing we have a capable guy ready in Buffalo if disaster strikes the big club.

Admittedly, his recent offensive numbers are not going to break any minor league hitting records anytime soon.

He posted a .185 average with 5 home runs and a .609 OPS across four different minor league stops last year.

But we are clearly not bringing him into the organization to hit tape-measure blasts into the fifth deck at Rogers Centre.

His real value lies entirely in his defensive IQ, game-calling ability, and his vast experience working with developing young arms.

Having a seasoned catcher down in Triple-A is absolutely massive for the accelerated development of our top tier pitching prospects.

He can effectively serve as an on-field coach to help refine the raw stuff of the next generation of starters.

Even if he never plays a single inning in Toronto, this signing is still a massive win for the farm system.

We are aggressively building a culture of depth and preparation that will pay huge dividends when the pennant race finally heats up.

Previously on Toronto Baseball Insider

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FEVRIER 10\|203 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays add another catcher as they sign former Phillies catcher Does William Simoneit's defensive experience make him a perfect mentor for the pitching prospects in Buffalo?
Yes	165	81.3 %
No	38	18.7 %
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