Simeon Woods Richardson Reports to Blue Jays for Friday Opener
Simeon Woods Richardson reported to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and will be active for the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. The move gives Toronto another arm in a rotation dealing with injuries and places the 25-year-old back in a familiar organization for a game that carries early-season weight in the American League East.
Woods Richardson Rejoins Toronto
Toronto acquired Woods Richardson from the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday for cash considerations after Minnesota designated him for assignment earlier this week. The Blue Jays then moved quickly to put him on the roster for Friday’s three-game set in Toronto, where the clubs entered tied for third in the division at 30-33.
Woods Richardson’s season has been rough. He went 0-7 with a 7.74 earned run average in the 2026 campaign, a sharp drop from last season, when he went 7-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 22 starts. Toronto is betting on the version that finished stronger a year ago, not the one that struggled through this season’s first stretch.
Blue Jays’ Woods Richardson History
This is the latest turn in a trade trail that has already crossed twice. Toronto first got Woods Richardson from the New York Mets in 2019 with prospect Anthony Kay for starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, then later sent Woods Richardson and Austin Martin to Minnesota for starting pitcher Jose Berrrios after he spent three seasons in the Blue Jays’ minor league system.
That background gives Friday’s return a different edge. Woods Richardson is back in a system that knows him well, and his career line shows a pitcher who has produced enough for teams to keep circling back: a 12-17 record with a 4.76 ERA over 61 starts.
Chad Dallas Heads to Buffalo
To make room, Toronto optioned right-handed pitcher Chad Dallas to Triple-A Buffalo after his MLB debut Thursday. Dallas earned the win in the Blue Jays’ 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves, working 3.2 innings and allowing one run on two hits.
For Toronto, the sequence is straightforward: add Woods Richardson now, ride the depth he brings into Friday’s opener, and lean on a pitcher whose past with the club and recent struggles both arrive at the same time. The Orioles are already in town, and the Blue Jays have made their roster move before first pitch.
