Blue Jays Bring Back Familiar Face as Woods Richardson Returns

Summary:

• Toronto acquired Simeon Woods Richardson from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations.
• The right-hander previously spent time in the Blue Jays organization before being traded in the Jose Berrios deal.
• Woods Richardson joins a pitching staff that has been hit hard by injuries to several key starters.

The Toronto Blue Jays have decided to bring back a familiar name as they continue searching for answers on the pitching front.

Reports say Toronto has acquired right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations. 

The move comes at a time when the team is dealing with several injuries in their starting rotation and are looking to strengthen their depth for the remainder of the season.

Back to the Cradle

For Simeon Woods Richardson, the trade marks a return to an organization that played a significant role in his development. 

The 25-year-old spent time in Toronto’s minor league system between 2019 and 2021 before being included in the blockbuster trade that sent pitcher Jose Berrios from Minnesota to the Blue Jays. Utility player Austin Martin was also part of that deal.

After spending a few seasons working his way through the Twins organization, the player eventually saw his dream come true when he eventually became a major league starter. 

His strong campaign in 2025 saw him finish with a 7 and 4 record and a respectable 4.04 ERA across 22 starts.

OFFICIAL: We've acquired RHP Simeon Woods Richardson from the Twins in exchange for cash considerations! pic.twitter.com/txngNcDj19

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 4, 2026

Jays Recognize Value 

This season, however, Texas native has struggled to find consistency, going 0 and 7 with a 7.74 ERA in 2026. 

Those difficulties ultimately led Minnesota to designate him for assignment earlier this week, opening the door for Toronto to make a move.

Despite his recent struggles, the Blue Jays still see the pitcher’s value, as Woods Richardson continues to possess experience at the major league level and offers another option for a club that has been forced to navigate a growing list of injuries.

Over 65 career appearances, including 61 starts, Woods Richardson owns a 12 and 17 record with a 4.76 ERA. While those numbers are modest, Toronto may believe a change of scenery and a return to a familiar organization could help him regain the form he showed a year ago.

The addition comes at a critical time for the Blue Jays. The club is currently without ace Dylan Cease, while future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer has also been sidelined. Two-time All-Star Shane Bieber has yet to make an appearance this season, further stretching the team’s pitching resources.

With the baseball season entering an important stretch, Woods Richardson will now have an opportunity to prove he can contribute and potentially carve out a role in Toronto’s injury-depleted pitching staff.