Woods Richardson was part of the trade package that sent José Berríos to Toronto. Now they're teammates.
Less than five years after the Minnesota Twins acquired Simeon Woods Richardson from the Toronto Blue Jays, the right-hander is heading back to the organization where that chapter began.
The Blue Jays acquired Woods Richardson from the Twins for cash considerations on Wednesday, ending a brief limbo period after Minnesota designated the 25-year-old for assignment on May 30.
The Twins sent José Berríos to Toronto during the 2021 trade deadline in a deal that also included outfielder Austin Martin. Woods Richardson arrived in Minnesota as one of the most exciting pitching prospects in baseball, with high hopes for what he could bring to the rotation. Now, after spending parts of five seasons in the Twin Cities, he'll be teammates with the man he was once traded for.
For a while, that trade appeared as a win for both sides. Woods Richardson settled into Minnesota's rotation over the past two seasons, posting a 4.17 ERA in 2024 and a 4.04 ERA in 2025 while handling 245 combined innings. His impressive 2.33 ERA over 27 innings to finish last season provided even more hope that he was coming into his own.
Woods Richardson never quite got it going once 2026 kicked off. After two solid starts gave the Twins hope, he would go 0-5 with a 9.79 ERA across his next seven starts while opponents hit .361 against him. The splitter that fueled his late-season success also lost much of its effectiveness, and his strikeout numbers dropped sharply.
The Twins eventually moved him to the bullpen before giving him one final spot start against the White Sox on May 28. He allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings in what proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back.
Now, a return north of the border provides an opportunity for a fresh start for the young right-hander. Still only 25 years old, Woods Richardson hopes some time with pitching coach Pete Walker can turn his season around and provide a boost for a Blue Jays staff that has been decimated by injuries.
"He's got some big league experience," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider, via Rick Farlow of MLB.com. "He's definitely a competitor and definitely has confidence on the mound. He was a pretty good staple guy in Minnesota's rotation for a couple of years."
Woods Richardson's Twins chapter didn't end the way he wanted. Now he'll hope a full circle reunion in Toronto is what he needs to revive his career.
