As the MLB season draws near, the Toronto Blue Jays are starting to shape their opening day roster. On Wednesday, they made a significant move by optioning catcher Brandon Valenzuela to Triple-A Buffalo.
Valenzuela, 25, joined the Blue Jays in a trade with the Padres last July and was added to the 40-man roster in November. He still has two option years left after this season.
In addition to Valenzuela, the Blue Jays reassigned five players to the minor-league camp, including catcher Robert Brooks, who was a non-roster invitee. With opening day just around the corner, it appears the Blue Jays are sticking with the catching lineup that closed out last season.
Alejandro Kirk, who earned his second All-Star nod last year, is locked in as the starter. Tyler Heineman, coming off his best major league season at 34, has secured the backup catcher spot with Valenzuela's move to Triple-A-a decision that was anticipated as camp began.
Still in camp is Aaron Parker, a 22-year-old non-roster invitee and former sixth-round pick. He hasn't played above High-A in the minors, so it's likely he'll soon be reassigned, leaving Kirk and Heineman to continue their roles from last season.
Kirk's position seems secure for the season, but Valenzuela remains a promising talent who could vie for the backup spot if Heineman struggles. Before last season, Heineman had only appeared in 111 major league games over five seasons, making his recent performance a pleasant surprise.
As the Blue Jays prepare for their season opener next Thursday, they'll need to trim at least nine more players from their 40-man roster. Some players, like starting pitcher Shane Bieber, are expected to start the season on the injured list, which could impact these final roster decisions.