Toronto Blue Jays sign former Phillies, Cubs catcher

The Toronto Blue Jays have added catching depth, signing former Philadelphia Phillies backstop William Simoneit to a minor-league contract, according to the club’s official transaction log.

The move comes one day after Toronto inked former Phillies right-hander Phillippe Aumont, continuing a small trend of bringing in players with ties to Philadelphia.

Simoneit, 29, originally entered pro ball as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Athletics in 2020.

His path to affiliated baseball hasn’t been easy, but it reflects steady perseverance. A three-time All-Ivy League selection at Cornell, Simoneit hit .306 with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs across 99 collegiate games.

From 2021 through 2023, he appeared in 244 minor-league contests ranging from High-A to Triple-A, compiling a .259/.359/.408 slash line with a 108 wRC+.

The Phillies selected him from the A’s in the minor-league phase of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft before dealing him to the Chicago Cubs for cash in June 2024.

After being released by the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate in Iowa, Simoneit continued his career in independent ball with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League in 2025 and later spent time in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Across his minor-league career, Simoneit owns 24 home runs, 135 RBIs, and a .251 batting average.

While he’s capable with the bat, his strongest attributes are behind the plate — including his defensive awareness, game management, and experience handling young pitchers — qualities that could prove valuable in Toronto’s system.

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