The Toronto Blue Jays’ catching depth took a hit on Wednesday.

During Wednesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, the team announced that recently DFA’d catcher Tyler Heineman had been traded to the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations.

The 34-year-old played a significant role as the backup catcher on the Blue Jays’ 2025 roster, with 12 extra-base hits and a .777 OPS over 61 regular-season games, but had only three plate appearances in the playoffs and two appearances as a defensive replacement.

Heineman then struggled at the plate to start 2026, slashing .154/.205/.205 with one home run and six RBIs over 87 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Brandon Valenzuela was called up to the major leagues after Alejandro Kirk sustained a broken thumb in early April, and quickly seized the starting job in the interim.

Valenzuela, 25, entered play Wednesday with seven homers, 18 RBIs and a .792 OPS while also recording a plus-six fielding run value that grades out in the 95th percentile. Heineman’s work behind the dish edged Valenzuela’s slightly — his fielding run-value this season is a plus-seven — but Valenzuela’s superior work at the plate forced the Blue Jays’ hand when Kirk returned from the injured list on June 12.

Despite Valenzuela having minor-league options remaining, Toronto chose to potentially expose Heineman to waivers, and he was ultimately traded to the Angels before that opportunity arose. Willie MacIver and C.J. Stubbs now make up the Blue Jays’ next round of catching depth at Triple-A.