The Seattle Mariners have added another arm to their pitching depth, signing right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson to a minor league contract and assigning him to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.
The move gives Seattle an experienced young pitcher with major league starting experience another opportunity to rebuild his value after a difficult 2026 campaign. Woods Richardson, who is only 25 years old, has already gone through a remarkable amount of roster movement this season, and his arrival in Seattle represents his third organization of the year.
Tacoma officially added Woods Richardson to its roster on September 2, shortly after the pitcher elected free agency following his time with the Toronto Blue Jays. (MLB.com)
For Seattle, the signing is primarily about adding another layer of pitching depth. The Mariners have a relatively established major league rotation, but injuries and the unpredictable nature of a long season can quickly create a need for additional starters. Woods Richardson gives the organization someone who has already handled a major league workload and could potentially become an option if the Mariners need help.
A Once-Highly Regarded Pitching Prospect
Woods Richardson’s career has taken several unexpected turns since he was selected in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. He was regarded as a promising pitching prospect early in his professional career and eventually became part of several significant trades.
The right-hander was sent from the Mets to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2019 deal that brought Marcus Stroman to New York. Two years later, Toronto included Woods Richardson and Austin Martin in the trade that sent Jose BerrĂos to the Blue Jays from Minnesota. (MLB.com)
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That history demonstrates how highly organizations once viewed his potential.
Woods Richardson eventually reached the majors with Minnesota and established himself as a legitimate rotation option. His 2024 and 2025 seasons were particularly encouraging because, while he was not dominating opposing hitters, he showed that he could provide reasonably dependable innings at the major league level.
Across 51 appearances during those two seasons, with all but one coming as a starter, Woods Richardson produced a combined 4.11 ERA and struck out 21.5 percent of the hitters he faced.
Those performances were enough for Minnesota to enter the 2026 season believing he could continue developing as part of its starting rotation.
Instead, the season quickly moved in the opposite direction.
2026 Has Been a Major Setback
Woods Richardson entered the year with an opportunity to establish himself as a dependable member of the Twins’ rotation. However, his performance deteriorated rapidly.
Minnesota ultimately removed him from the rotation after he struggled badly on the mound. His ERA climbed to nearly 8.00, and the Twins decided that moving him into a different role might give him an opportunity to regain his form.
The organization shifted him to the bullpen in May, but the experiment did not last long.
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By the end of May, Minnesota designated Woods Richardson for assignment. MLB’s transaction record shows that the Twins made the move on May 30, marking a surprisingly quick fall for a pitcher who had entered spring training competing for a spot in the rotation. (MLB.com)
Minnesota ultimately traded him to Toronto for cash considerations in early June.
The move gave Woods Richardson another chance to turn his season around, and the Blue Jays initially appeared willing to give him an opportunity to remain a starter at the minor league level.
Toronto stretched him out in Triple-A and continued developing him as a starter, even though the organization used him primarily as a long reliever when he reached the majors.
That opportunity produced mixed results.
Better Run Prevention With Toronto
Woods Richardson’s overall numbers for 2026 are certainly concerning, but his stint with Toronto contained at least one encouraging element.
During his time with the Blue Jays, he appeared in eight games and worked 18â…“ innings. He surrendered eight runs, resulting in a 3.93 ERA. He also held opposing hitters to a .222 batting average. (BlueJaysNation)
Those numbers were considerably better than what he had produced with Minnesota.
However, there were still warning signs.
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Woods Richardson struggled to miss bats and had difficulty limiting free passes. He struck out only 14 hitters while walking 12 over those 18â…“ innings. That combination made it difficult for Toronto to trust him with a larger role.
The Blue Jays eventually designated him for assignment again on August 28.
Toronto’s official transaction log confirms the move, which came after Woods Richardson had been used in the major league club’s pitching plans. (MLB.com)
He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo, but rather than remain with the organization, Woods Richardson elected free agency on September 1.
That decision opened the door for Seattle.
Seattle Provides a Fresh Opportunity
The Mariners were able to bring Woods Richardson into the organization less than 24 hours after he became a free agent.
Seattle signed him to a minor league contract on September 2 and immediately assigned him to Tacoma. (MLB.com)
The move makes sense for both sides.
For Woods Richardson, Seattle offers a fresh environment and an opportunity to work with a new pitching staff. Rather than immediately being asked to solve his problems at the major league level, he can focus on getting consistent innings in Tacoma.
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For the Mariners, there is very little risk involved.
Because the deal is a minor league contract, Seattle does not have to commit a major league roster spot to Woods Richardson. If he pitches well, however, the Mariners could potentially call him up and see whether the former prospect can provide useful innings down the stretch.
That flexibility is particularly valuable for a team trying to navigate the final portion of the season.
Seattle Has Some Rotation Concerns
The Mariners’ decision to add Woods Richardson also comes at a time when their pitching depth has taken a hit.
Seattle has a five-man major league rotation, but Emerson Hancock recently suffered an adductor strain. That creates uncertainty behind the current group of starters and makes additional depth more important.
The Mariners do have pitchers available at Tacoma, including Jhonathan DĂaz and Carson Fulmer, but both have struggled in the Pacific Coast League.
That makes Woods Richardson an intriguing addition.
He is not coming into the organization as an untested prospect. He has already pitched meaningful innings in the majors and has experience starting games at the highest level.
The challenge is determining whether Seattle can help him rediscover the form he showed from 2024 through 2025.
The Numbers Show Why Seattle Is Taking a Chance
Woods Richardson’s 2026 statistics illustrate both why his stock has fallen and why Seattle might still believe there is something worth salvaging.
According to MLB’s current statistics, he has appeared in 20 games this season and owns a 2-7 record, a 6.68 ERA, 40 strikeouts and a 1.76 WHIP across 66 innings. (MLB.com)
The strikeout and walk numbers are especially important.
A pitcher can sometimes survive without elite strikeout numbers if he consistently limits baserunners and keeps the ball in the park. But Woods Richardson has struggled to do enough of those things consistently in 2026.
He has also surrendered too many free passes, putting additional pressure on himself in high-leverage situations.
At 25, though, there is still time for a turnaround.
That may be the biggest reason Seattle decided that Woods Richardson was worth pursuing.
A Chance to Rebuild His Value
The Mariners do not necessarily need Woods Richardson to become a frontline starter immediately.
His first objective in Tacoma will likely be much simpler: throw strikes, work deep into games when possible, improve his command and regain confidence.
If he can accomplish those things, the rest of the season could become a valuable evaluation period.
Seattle could eventually use him as a traditional starter, but his recent experience in the Toronto bullpen also means he has demonstrated some versatility. Depending on the Mariners’ needs, he could potentially serve as a long reliever or emergency starter.
That flexibility could become especially useful if injuries affect the pitching staff.
The Mariners have also demonstrated that they are willing to give opportunities to pitchers who have something to prove. Woods Richardson fits that profile perfectly.
A Career That Still Has Time to Change Direction
It is easy to look at Woods Richardson’s 2026 statistics and conclude that his stock has fallen dramatically.
There is no question that this season has been a major setback.
But his age and previous performance suggest that his story is far from finished.
He was a quality prospect, reached the majors at a young age and performed around league-average levels for Minnesota in 2024 and 2025. His career has also involved multiple organizations and several major transitions, which can make consistency difficult for a young pitcher.
Now he gets another reset.
Seattle represents his third organization of the season, following Minnesota and Toronto. The Mariners are not asking him to immediately carry a major league rotation. Instead, they are giving him an opportunity to work his way back through Tacoma.
That could ultimately be the best environment for him.
What Comes Next
For now, Woods Richardson will report to the Tacoma Rainiers and attempt to establish himself within Seattle’s pitching system.
His immediate goal should be to produce consistent outings and demonstrate that the struggles of the first half of 2026 do not define him.
If he can improve his command, generate more swings and misses and limit the free passes that have hurt him throughout the season, the Mariners may have a useful depth option on their hands.
And because he is only 25, a strong finish could potentially change the trajectory of his career.
Seattle’s move is therefore more than simply another minor league signing. It is a low-risk opportunity to see whether a once-promising starting pitcher can rediscover the ability that made him an intriguing prospect in the first place.
Woods Richardson’s 2026 season has already taken him from a major league rotation to the bullpen, from one organization to another and eventually to free agency. Now, with the Mariners, he has another opportunity to start over.
Whether he can take advantage of it will depend on what happens next in Tacoma.
For Seattle, however, the calculation is straightforward: there is little downside to adding an experienced 25-year-old pitcher who has already shown that he can compete at the major league level.
If Woods Richardson can regain even part of his previous form, the Mariners could eventually have another legitimate pitching option available when they need it most.
The current transaction trail confirms the key move: Seattle signed him September 2, 2026, and Tacoma added him immediately afterward. (MLB.com)
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