The Cubs have acquired right-hander Nate Pearson in a commerce with the Blue Jays, in keeping with ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan (X hyperlink). Toronto will obtain minor league outfielder Yohendrick Pinango in return, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel studies (through X), in addition to minor league infielder Josh Rivera, as per Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and Arden Zwelling (X hyperlink).
Pearson was chosen twenty eighth general within the 2017 draft, only one choose after the Cubs took left-hander Brendon Little (who at the moment pitches for the Jays). A damaged arm and an indirect harm restricted him to only 1 2/3 innings in 2018, however he re-emerged with a vengeance in 2019, rocketing up the minor league ladder to Triple-A Buffalo by season’s finish and establishing himself as one in every of baseball’s prime pitching prospects. MLB Pipeline and Baseball America each ranked him inside the general prime 10 of their preseason prospect rankings upfront of the 2020 season, and that yr noticed Pearson make his MLB debut within the type of 5 appearances for the Jays throughout the pandemic-shortened marketing campaign.
Since pitching 101 2/3 innings within the minors in 2019, Pearson has barely topped that whole when it comes to huge league expertise, with 115 2/3 frames on his resume within the Present. Pearson has posted a 5.21 ERA, 25.2% strikeout price, and 11.6% stroll price within the majors, with a 15.1% homer price contributing to that unimpressive ERA.
All however 5 of Pearson’s 93 huge league appearances have come as a reliever, as Toronto shifted Pearson to the bullpen in an effort to maintain him wholesome after quite a few harm setbacks. From 2020-22, Pearson needed to take care of such different points as a flexor pressure, a lat pressure, mono, groin issues, and a hernia surgical procedure, which restricted his time on the mound and prevented him from any MLB motion in anyway in 2022.
Pearson has been wholesome over the past two years, however his efficiency has been inconsistent as finest, dashing the Blue Jays’ hopes that Pearson might a minimum of develop into a high-leverage reduction weapon. He is likely one of the league’s tougher throwers with a fastball that averages 97.6mph, however batters have teed off that heater to the tune of a .342 common this season. Pearson’s slider has been a way more efficient providing, however opposing hitters have realized to put off the slider and chase the fastball, to nice success.
Pearson not too long ago expressed an curiosity in returning to a beginning function, which might’ve seemingly been one thing the Jays would’ve been open to given their rotation and the group’s general unsure future path within the midst of an underwhelming season. At present’s commerce, nevertheless, closes the door on Pearson’s Blue Jays tenure solely, and it maybe hints at a change in Toronto’s plans for the commerce deadline. The Jays had reportedly been solely planning to maneuver rental or shorter-term gamers, whereas maintaining loads of their core in place for an additional run at rivalry in 2025.
Since Pearson is just in his first yr of arbitration eligibility and is managed by the 2026 marketing campaign, the deal might sign the Jays’ willingness to develop their checklist of commerce candidates, maybe if the membership is contemplating that some degree of a rebuild is so as. Then once more, it might be that the Blue Jays had been open to transferring Pearson just because they not think about him any form of core piece — a letdown for the franchise, on condition that Pearson appeared like a future cornerstone not way back.
The Cubs are struggling by a disappointing yr of their very own, with a 49-56 report compared to Toronto’s 47-56 mark. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned earlier this week that the membership is already looking forward to 2025 when it comes to potential deadline pickups, and to that finish Pearson represents an fascinating change-of-scenery candidate. The righty turns 28 subsequent month, so there’s nonetheless a lot of time for a second act to his profession as both a reliever or starter. Between Pearson’s prospect pedigree and two years of remaining arb management, there’s some main buy-low upside for the Cubs if the right-hander is ready to discover his type in Wrigleyville. Peter Gammons (through X) studies that the Pink Sox had been additionally taken with Pearson, although it stands to motive that the Jays may’ve most well-liked to maneuver the righty exterior the AL East.
Baseball America ranks Pinango seventeenth amongst Cubs prospects, whereas MLB Pipeline has him twenty ninth. The outfielder was a world signing in 2018 and he has spent the vast majority of his profession in high-A ball, solely reaching Double-A for the primary time this season and hitting .223/.316/.345 with 4 homers in 225 PA for Double-A Tennessee. BA’s scouting report notes that the 22-year-old’s makes an attempt to concentrate on including energy in 2022-23 led to diminished numbers general, however he has proven a greater strategy in 2024 and posted improved hard-contact numbers and a greater chase price. Defensively, Pinango is a mean defender most likely finest suited to left subject and even first base over the long run, and the latter place would naturally put extra stress on him to ship extra on the plate.
Rivera is twenty third on Pipeline’s checklist however wasn’t included in Baseball America’s Cubs prime 30, maybe owing to his .169/.277/.260 slash line over 253 PA at Double-A Tennessee this season. Like Pinango, Rivera can also be taking part in Double-A ball for the primary time, and it has been a reasonably fast development since Rivera was solely drafted final yr, within the third spherical. The College of Florida product has performed largely shortstop as a professional with some second base and third base time, and Pipeline initiatives him as “an offensive-minded utilityman” given his uncooked expertise on the plate and his skill to competently play a number of positions, even when he isn’t a standout within the subject.
