The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired catcher Brandon Valenzuela from the San Diego Padres in exchange for infielder Will Wagner, the team announced Thursday.
Valenzuela, a 24-year-old switch-hitting catcher, was the 26th-ranked prospect in San Diego's system by MLB Pipeline. He has spent all of 2025 at double-A, slashing .229/.313/.387 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs in 87 games.
San Diego signed the Mexican backstop as an international free agent in 2017.
Valenzuela ranks second among double-A catchers with a 34.7 per cent caught stealing percentage. His work behind the plate is Valenzuela's calling card, according to MLB Pipeline, which says the six-foot-one catcher is "an impressive receiver."
Wagner was acquired by the Blue Jays at last year's trade deadline as part of the return from the Houston Astros for Yusei Kikuchi.
The 27-year-old infielder had played in 40 games with the Blue Jays this season, hitting for a .634 OPS with seven doubles. He had lined up defensively at third, first and second base while also spending time as the team's designated hitter.
Wagner — the son of newly minted Hall of Fame closer, Billy Wagner — made his MLB debut with Toronto in 2024 and hit .305 with a pair of homers in 24 games.
He was originally drafted by the Astros in the 18th round of the 2021 draft out of Liberty University.
