Inside The Blue Jays

Blue Jays Acquire Catcher Brandon Valenzuela in Deadline Trade With Padres

The Toronto Blue Jays added to their organizational depth at the catching position by landing a prospect in a deadline deal with the San Diego Padres.
Kyle Morton|
Mar 6, 2021; Dunedin, Florida, USA; A detailed view of the Toronto Blue Jays logo on a building at TD Ballpark during the spring training game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Mar 6, 2021; Dunedin, Florida, USA; A detailed view of the Toronto Blue Jays logo on a building at TD Ballpark during the spring training game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies. | Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

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Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Thursday that the team acquired catcher Brandon Valenzuela in a trade with the San Diego Padres.

With just hours until the deadline passed, teams all over the league were busy trying to put the final touches on their roster as the postseason draws closer, and the Blue Jays were no exception.

Toronto made the move with a wildly busy Padres team to add Valenzuela to the organization, sending infielder Will Wagner back the other way to Southern California.

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Valenzuela is a 24-year-old native of Hermosillo, Mexico who was blocked from the possibility of Major League playing time due to San Diego's excess of depth at the position.

This season, with Double-A San Antonio, Valenzuela has hit .229/.313/.387 with 12 home runs, 46 RBI and six stolen bases.

Throughout the entirety of his minor league career, the switch-hitting backstop owns a .714 OPS.

Wagner, the other half of this one-for-one swap, is in his second Major League season with the Blue Jays, who previously acquired him from the Houston Astros.

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Drafted by the Astros in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB draft, Wagner owns a .237/.336/.298 slash line in his 40 games with Toronto this season.

Wagner has yet to hit a home run, but he's worked 15 walks and provided some solid defensive versatility for the team's infield.

The Padres hope Wagner will bring those same traits to their roster, while the Blue Jays add a quality prospect at a premium position.

For more Blue Jays news, head over to Blue Jays On SI

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Kyle Morton
KYLE MORTON

Kyle Morton has covered various sports from amateur to professional level athletics. A graduate of Fordham University, Kyle specializes in MLB and NHL coverage while having previous bylines with SB Nation, The Hockey Writers, HighSchoolOT, and Sports World News. He spent time working the beat for the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and is an avid fan of the NHL, MLB, NFL and college basketball. Enjoys the outdoors and hiking in his free time away from sports.

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