Mariners Sign Blue Jays Pitcher Days After DFA
After three months back in the organization in which he was once a top-3 prospect, Simeon Woods Richardson was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays last week. Now, he's signed on with a Wild Card rival, the Seattle Mariners.
SIGNED: #Mariners have signed RHP Simeon Woods Richardson to a minor-league contract.
— MLB Transaction Tracker (@MLBMovesTracker) September 3, 2026
Woods Richardson was a highly regarded prospect when the Jays acquired him from the New York Mets in the Marcus Stroman trade in 2019. He rose to the No. 3 spot among Jays prospects in 2020, and was still at No. 4 in 2021. But before he had a chance to debut with Toronto, he was dealt by the Blue Jays to the Minnesota Twins back in 2021 in the Jose Berrios trade.
SWR's return to the Jays organization lasted just 90 days, though a majority of it was spent with the Buffalo Bisons in Triple-A. In 18.1 innings up with the big club, strictly as a reliever, he had a 3.93 ERA, but his 14:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio was ugly. He was DFA'd last Friday, cleared waivers, and subsequently elected free agency.
The 25-year-old could now potentially get a chance to help the Mariners try to claw their way back into Wild Card contention. For now, it's a minor league deal, and he'll start out at Triple-A Tacoma, but if Seattle needs a long-relief option, they could give Woods Richardson a look.
The M's, after being swept by the Blue Jays last weekend, are now 4.0 games back of the third and final Wild Card spot in the AL, going into Thursday night's play.