The Seattle Mariners have added another intriguing arm to their pitching depth, signing former top prospect Simeon Woods Richardson to a minor-league contract as the organization looks to strengthen its options heading into the final stretch of the 2026 season.
Woods Richardson agreed to the deal with Seattle on Wednesday and has been assigned to Triple-A Tacoma. The move gives the Mariners another starting-pitching option in the upper levels of their organization and provides the 25-year-old right-hander with an opportunity to reset after a difficult season at the major-league level.
The signing comes shortly after Woods Richardson became a free agent. The Toronto Blue Jays designated him for assignment on August 28, and he was subsequently outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo before electing free agency on September 1. Seattle moved quickly to give him another opportunity.
Woods Richardson has had a complicated 2026 season. He began the year with the Minnesota Twins but was designated for assignment in late May after struggling during the early portion of the season. Minnesota ultimately moved him to Toronto in June, where the Blue Jays gave him another chance to establish himself.
The right-hander eventually appeared in the majors for both organizations, but the results were inconsistent. According to Baseball-Reference, Woods Richardson finished the 2026 major-league season with a 6.68 ERA and 1.76 WHIP across 66 innings, recording 40 strikeouts.
Those numbers are a significant departure from the potential he showed earlier in his career.
Woods Richardson was once regarded as one of baseball’s better young pitching prospects. He was ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects during both the 2020 and 2021 seasons before making his major-league debut with Minnesota in 2022.
The Mariners are now hoping they can help him rediscover some of that promise.
Seattle’s decision to assign him to Tacoma rather than immediately adding him to the major-league roster gives Woods Richardson an opportunity to work on his mechanics and command without the pressure of facing major-league hitters every night.
The move could also provide Seattle with useful pitching insurance. The Mariners have dealt with questions surrounding their rotation depth, and adding a pitcher with major-league experience gives the organization another arm who could potentially become an option if injuries or workload concerns arise.
There is also the possibility that Woods Richardson could reinvent himself as a reliever. Sports Illustrated noted that his skill set could potentially make him a better fit in relief, where his stuff could play differently in shorter appearances.
For Woods Richardson, the opportunity is about more than simply finding another organization. It represents a chance to rebuild his value after moving through multiple roster changes in a short period.
He has already shown that he can compete at the highest level, and his previous prospect status demonstrates why teams have continued to give him opportunities despite his recent struggles.
Seattle, meanwhile, is taking a low-risk chance on a pitcher who still has plenty of professional experience and developmental upside.
If Woods Richardson can put together strong outings with Tacoma, the Mariners could eventually consider him for a major-league opportunity. For now, however, the focus will be on getting him back on track and seeing whether he can turn his latest opportunity into a meaningful comeback.
The signing may not generate the same headlines as a major-league acquisition, but it could become an intriguing depth move for Seattle. The Mariners have added a former top prospect at a time when pitching depth is particularly valuable, giving Woods Richardson another opportunity to prove that his major-league career still has plenty of chapters left to write.
