TORONTO, CANADA – JULY 26: The Toronto Blue Jays logo is seen during warms up ahead of the game against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre on July 26, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers have plenty of recent history, but their latest high-profile interaction had little to do with the stars who battled in last year’s World Series.
Instead, the two playoff contenders made a pitching swap as both organizations continue to evaluate their depth heading into the final stretch of the season as well as the futures of their franchise talent.
“The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, who played a classic World Series last fall, eventually won in seven games by the Dodgers, exchanged minor league pitchers on Tuesday,” Ryan Wolstat reported for the Toronto Sun. “The Jays acquired 6-foot-6 right-hander Jose Rodriguez in exchange for another righty with the same surname, Sebastian Rodriguez.”
That transaction, though minor, made headlines for the rival clubs involved as well as the late-season nature of the transaction. But it might have obscured some other news on the Blue Jay’s pitching depth front.
Toronto Blue Jays Veteran Cuts Ties With Team After Very Short Reunion
Also on Tuesday, the official transaction log revealed that Simeon Woods Richardson, who has a long history with the Blue Jays though he appeared in just eight games this season, has cut ties with the team and returned to free agency.
The right-hander originally came through the Blue Jays organization before being sent to Minnesota in the 2021 deal that brought Jose Berríos to Toronto. He enjoyed some productive seasons in Minnesota, but after the Twins designated him for assignment earlier this year, the Blue Jays brought him back, hoping he could provide useful rotation depth or length out of the bullpen.
His second stint with Toronto was a mixed bag. He generally pitched effectively, posting a 3.93 ERA across 18 and one-third innings, but his most recent outing was disastrous. Woods Richardson surrendered six runs in just one inning against the Kansas City Royals, further complicating his place on a pitching staff with increasingly limited roster flexibility.
“Woods Richardson, 25, was in his second Blue Jays stint of the season,” Steve Adams reported for MLB Trade Rumors. “The former top prospect was bounced from the Twins’ rotation and roster earlier this year after some prolonged struggles.”
The decision to designate him for assignment a second time late last month became more understandable given his underlying numbers. Woods Richardson had struggled to miss bats consistently, while his walk rate had climbed significantly. His fastball also lacked the velocity needed to consistently overpower hitters, leaving little margin for error when opponents made contact.
Veteran Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Elects Free Agency After Roster Cut
By refusing a minor league assignment and opting for free agency instead, Woods Richardson could pursue a contract with a new team or yet another reunion with the Blue Jays.
For the Blue Jays, meanwhile, the move represents another adjustment to a pitching group that continues to evolve. Toronto may have acquired Jose Rodriguez from the Dodgers, but the day also marked the end of Woods Richardson’s latest attempt to revive his career with an organization that has given him several opportunities.
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