The Mariners have added another arm to the mix, signing right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson to a minor-league deal and sending him to Triple-A Tacoma.
On paper, it’s a depth move. Seattle’s rotation has suddenly thinned out, so the club now has a starter it can keep tucked away behind the big-league group. But Woods Richardson might wind up being more useful in a different lane.
He’s been a starter for most of his career, including 10 starts with Minnesota this season. Toronto also kept him built up at Triple-A after getting him in June. Once he reached the majors, though, the Blue Jays mostly used him as a multi-inning bullpen option.
That stretch came with a 3.93 ERA over 18 1/3 innings. The strikeout total was solid enough at 14, but the command never really settled in. Woods Richardson issued 12 walks in those innings, a line that tells you he was surviving more than controlling the game.
Now he’s on to his third organization of the season after clearing waivers twice. Seattle is not exactly uncovering some hidden gem here. What it is getting is a 25-year-old with major-league experience, a five-pitch mix and enough starter mileage to be worth another look.
The Mariners’ current rotation features Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and rookie Kade Anderson. Emerson Hancock is out with an adductor strain, which helps explain why Woods Richardson is in Tacoma for now.
That setup could still make him useful behind Anderson. If Seattle wants to trim one of the rookie’s September starts, Woods Richardson could step in for the next turn rather than forcing Dan Wilson into a bullpen game. The same idea applies if any starter only gets through four innings and needs someone to bridge the gap.
It would also give the Mariners a cleaner read on what they actually have. Woods Richardson’s stuff hasn’t missed enough bats this year, and the walks have remained a problem. If Seattle wants to test him in a narrower relief role, that at least limits the job description.
The Mariners have a track record of helping pitchers find a better version of themselves, but that doesn’t make every case a fix. Twelve walks in 18 1/3 innings will get anyone in trouble.
September still leaves room for Seattle to try something. Woods Richardson can stay stretched out in Tacoma and then get a bullpen audition if the Mariners decide there’s something worth exploring.
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