Brandon Valenzuela Making Blue Jays' Tough Roster Decision Easy
When the Toronto Blue Jays traded busted prospect Will Wagner to the San Diego Padres last year in return for catcher Brandon Valenzuela, the team could never have expected the 25-year-old Mexican backstop to perform the way he has in his rookie season.
Through the first 45 games of his MLB career, Valenzuela has been a revelation for the Blue Jays, as he's hit seven home runs, has a .799 OPS, a 117 OPS+, and has racked up 1.7 bWAR.
On June 9, he had one of the biggest moments of his MLB career to date, when he had the game-winning hit for Toronto as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning.
His performance has made what is supposed to be a tough decision for the Blue Jays coming up in the next few days an easy one.
With Alejandro Kirk Coming Back, Blue Jays Have a Big Decision to Make
Keep in mind that Valenzuela did not start the season on the big-league roster. He was only called up to the majors because Alejandro Kirk, the All-Star catcher for the Blue Jays, broke his thumb in April and has been on the shelf since then.
The Blue Jays thought they might have a decent backstop that could at least be strong defensively in Valenzuela, someone who could share starts with veteran backup Tyler Heineman while Kirk was out.
Instead, they have received a mind-blowing performance by Valenzuela so far, as he has been statistically one of the best hitters for the Blue Jays this season.
Think about it, Valenzuela has more than double the number of homers that Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has so far this season. Literally no one on planet Earth would have ever predicted that to be the case, but here we are.
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It all goes to say that Valenzuela is making what is supposed to be a tough decision for Blue Jays' management an easy one.
When Kirk comes back, the Blue Jays have to decide what they are going to do with Valenzuela. Do they keep him on the roster? Or do they send him down to the minors, since he has options remaining?
Based on his performance, he needs to stay up. But based on MLB roster rules, it's not a total lock, though it really should be.
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Tyler Heineman Likely to Be Lost on Waivers
At this point, what was once a tough decision is now an easy one. When Kirk is activated, the Blue Jays just have to bite the bullet and expose Heineman to waivers.
Heineman has been a good soldier for the Blue Jays. The 34-year-old career backup is in his third stint in Toronto, and he is one of the most well-liked and respected players on the team.
But if the Blue Jays are serious about winning, then they will need to put Heineman on waivers to make room for Kirk, as Valenzuela simply cannot be sent down.
With a horrid batting average of .154, a well-below-average OPS of .410, an OPS+ of 13 that is 87 points below league average, and a -0.4 bWAR, it's clear that Heineman is just not an MLB-level hitter anymore.
He was great for the Blue Jays last year, as he was one of the team's unsung heroes during its World Series run.
But this year, Heineman has been one of the worst hitters in the league. Though he has a good glove and calls a smart game with the pitching staff, his bat is a black hole, and for a Blue Jays team that has struggled on offense this year, they simply can't afford to keep him on their 26-man roster.
It's been a good run for Heineman in Toronto, but it's likely coming to an end.
When Kirk returns to the Blue Jays in the coming days, look for Heineman to be exposed to waivers. Yes, a rival like the New York Yankees might pick him up, and that's the risk the Blue Jays take when they waive Heineman.
But they simply cannot afford to send Valenzuela down, making Heineman the odd man out.
Valenzuela has earned his spot on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster, and he's here to stay.
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 3:02 PM.