The Toronto Blue Jays reportedly agreed to acquire starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations after the right-hander was designated for assignment. Woods Richardson, 25, struggled in 2026 and will now
By Wednesday night, a pitcher who once carried big expectations was suddenly back on the move.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins reportedly agreed to a trade on Wednesday. with Toronto acquiring starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson. Minnesota will receive cash considerations in return. The deal lands the 25-year-old Woods Richardson after the Twins designated him for assignment. a decision that immediately caught the attention of the Blue Jays.
Woods Richardson had once been a former top prospect with the Blue Jays before Minnesota acquired him in the Jose Berrios trade. With Berrios currently dealing with an injury, Toronto’s need for pitching depth intensified, and this opportunity became available.
Woods Richardson made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2022. Over 65 total games with Minnesota, he appeared but never truly pitched up to his full potential. Across 302.1 innings of work, he recorded a 4.76 ERA. Those numbers tell part of the story—but the recent form is what appears to have pushed the Twins to act. So far in 2026, Woods Richardson has made 12 appearances, including 10 starts, and posted a 7.74 ERA. That run ended with the DFA decision, and now he is headed back to Toronto.
It’s still unclear what his role will be with the Blue Jays. Toronto will certainly benefit from the pitching depth, but whether Woods Richardson can settle into the kind of rhythm that stays with a starting rotation—or carve out a different lane—remains to be seen.
The timing matters inside Toronto’s season. The Blue Jays entered their Wednesday night game against the Atlanta Braves with a 29-32 record. already trying to find their footing after reaching the World Series last season. They are currently in fourth place in the competitive American League East division. and a move like this speaks to the urgency of pitching help right now.
For the Twins, the trade is also the consequence of a difficult stretch that followed the Berrios trade era. For Woods Richardson. the turnaround is immediate: designated for assignment by Minnesota. traded to Toronto. and now given another chance to convince both teams that his earlier promise can still translate to big-league impact.
Simeon Woods Richardson Toronto Blue Jays Minnesota Twins Jose Berrios injury designated for assignment MLB trade pitching depth 2026 ERA American League East