The Toronto Blue Jays made a surprising roster move Friday, designating right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods-Richardson for assignment before their game against the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old had been with the club for barely a month after being acquired in a trade earlier this June.
The team announced the move alongside the recall of left-handed pitcher Adam Macko from Triple-A Buffalo. Macko is expected to be active for Friday night’s game.
A Short but Effective Stay
Woods-Richardson made three appearances for Toronto, tossing 10 innings without allowing a single earned run. He posted a 1.100 WHIP and struck out five batters. It was easily the best stretch of his major league career.
But the Blue Jays apparently saw enough or needed the roster spot more than they needed a pitcher with a 0.00 ERA. That’s baseball sometimes. The numbers are there but the organizational fit isn’t.
What Happens Next
Toronto now has seven days to figure out what to do with Woods-Richardson. They can trade him, put him on waivers, release him, or send him to the minors if he clears. Most likely he’ll hit waivers and some team takes a flier on a guy who was once considered an elite prospect.
The story here is about expectations vs. reality. Woods-Richardson came up through the Mets system, got traded to the Twins in the big Jose Berrios deal, and was supposed to be part of Minnesota’s future. Things never quite clicked. Over 312.1 career innings across parts of four seasons, he has a 4.61 ERA and 1.380 WHIP with 263 strikeouts. Not terrible. Not what anyone expected from a top-100 prospect either.
He’s still only 25. Arms get second chances all the time in this league. Maybe a change of scenery or a new pitching coach unlocks something. The raw stuff hasn’t disappeared. But the clock is ticking on that prospect shine, and another DFA doesn’t help.
For now, Woods-Richardson waits. The Blue Jays play on. And somewhere another front office is deciding whether to put in a claim.
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