Mariners Take Flyer on Woods Richardson After Blue Jays Release

Second chances in the minors. The Mariners signed Simeon Woods Richardson to a minor league contract, adding the right-hander to their Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. Woods Richardson became available after the Blue Jays elected to waive him—marking the second time Toronto had run him through waivers unclaimed this season.

Releasing a young pitcher twice suggests Toronto saw limited immediate upside, or perhaps the organization made a strategic pivot. For Seattle, the calculation is different. Minor league deals offer low-risk opportunities to evaluate talent without taxing the 40-man roster. If Woods Richardson shows command and velocity at Triple-A, the Mariners can promote him to the majors if injuries strike or roster depth is needed.

This kind of move reflects how teams use their minor league systems as laboratories. A pitcher waived by another club may have underperformed, struggled with consistency, or simply fallen behind in a crowded organizational depth chart. Seattle's willingness to sign him suggests they believe they can develop him or see something Toronto missed.

Path forward unclear. Woods Richardson's minor league deal doesn't guarantee he'll reach the majors this season, though strong performance in Tacoma could accelerate that timeline. For the Mariners, it's a depth gamble with no immediate roster impact. The move signals faith in the organization's development infrastructure rather than an urgent pitching need.

Source: original report ↗