The Seattle Mariners have brought in another arm, signing right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson to a minor league deal through Triple-A Tacoma.
Tacoma Rainiers announced the move on Wednesday, giving Seattle a five-year veteran starter who has spent most of his career in the rotation. The Blue Jays, though, used him in a bullpen role before he hit the market.
Woods Richardson chose free agency after Toronto waived him on Tuesday. In eight relief appearances for the Blue Jays, the 25-year-old logged a 3.93 ERA and struck out 18.4% of the batters he faced.
His path to Seattle has been a winding one. Woods Richardson opened the season with the Minnesota Twins, then lost his spot in the rotation and was traded to Toronto in June.
Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors noted that it has been a tough year for the former second-round pick, but pointed to the track record he built with Minnesota. “This has been a difficult season for the 25-year-old. Woods Richardson is a former second-round pick and quality prospect who pitched at a league-average level for the Twins from 2024-25,” Franco wrote.
Franco also added, “Woods Richardson combined for a 4.11 ERA with a 21.5% strikeout percentage across 51 appearances (all but one as a starter) over those two years. That earned him a spot in Minnesota’s starting five to open 2026.”
If Seattle does not call him up to the majors, Woods Richardson will become a free agent.
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