Buffalo Bisons Released Catcher William Simoneit
The Toronto Blue Jays organization cut the 29-year-old catcher following the conclusion of the 2026 minor league season.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Baseball
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The Buffalo Bisons released catcher William Simoneit from his minor league contract on September 19, 2026. Simoneit, who played the 2026 season for Buffalo, is now a free agent seeking a new opportunity.
Why it matters
The move reflects a strategic shift by the Toronto Blue Jays organization to consolidate their catching depth around a foundation that includes major leaguers Alejandro Kirk and Brandon Valenzuela. By trimming the roster, the team is prioritizing development time for their preferred prospects.
During the 2026 season, William Simoneit recorded a .247 batting average with a .716 OPS and threw out 22% of base stealers. In comparison, organizational prospect Brandon Valenzuela finished his season with 8 home runs and 1.8 fWAR across 85 games.
The players
William Simoneit
He is a 29-year-old catcher who spent the 2026 season playing for the Buffalo Bisons.
Buffalo Bisons
This team is the Triple-A minor league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays based in Buffalo, New York.
Toronto Blue Jays
This professional Major League Baseball organization based in Toronto manages the roster and contract decisions for its minor league affiliates.
Brandon Valenzuela
He is a prospect within the Toronto Blue Jays organization who recorded 1.8 fWAR and 8 home runs during the 2026 season.
Alejandro Kirk
He serves as a primary major league catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
The details
Simoneit had originally joined the Toronto Blue Jays organization on a minor league contract during the 2026 offseason. The decision to release the 29-year-old veteran comes as the organization streamlines its minor league depth charts before the official end of the regular season.
Timeline
William Simoneit signed his minor league contract during the 2026 offseason.
The Buffalo Bisons released William Simoneit on September 19, 2026.
The professional baseball regular season concludes on September 21, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The release of William Simoneit mirrors the typical roster trimming that occurs across minor league organizations as clubs evaluate their depth heading into the offseason. This move solidifies the organizational hierarchy, signaling a shift in developmental focus for the Blue Jays as they look toward future seasons.
The removal of Simoneit from the Bisons roster creates additional playing time opportunities for other catchers within the Toronto system for the final games of the season. The move does not impact the major league roster but confirms the organization's current preference for Brandon Valenzuela.
The takeaway
Roster management is a constant process in professional baseball that often shifts based on the performance of younger prospects. Fans can expect further organizational changes across the league as teams begin their evaluations for the upcoming spring training period.
Further reading
For more updates on local player rosters and front office moves, visit Baseball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Forbes.
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