Cubs acquire RHP Pearson, 'a guy who’s just getting better'

KANSAS CITY -- The Cubs made the type of move Saturday that general manager Jed Hoyer had signaled his club was seeking.

Chicago’s first move to compete in 2025 and beyond was completed when it acquired right-hander Nate Pearson from the Blue Jays for Minor League prospects Yohendrick Pinango and Josh Rivera, the club announced on Saturday. To make room for Pearson, the Cubs designated Jesus Tinoco for assignment.

TRADE DETAILS
Cubs receive: RHP Nate Pearson
Blue Jays receive: INF Josh Rivera (Cubs’ No. 23 prospect) and OF Yohendrick Pinango (No. 29 prospect)

Pearson is under team control through 2026, giving the Cubs a potential high-leverage relief option for the next two-and-a-half seasons, although the 27-year-old has expressed a desire to return to a starter role in the future.

“We decided to acquire what we think is a really talented arm and he’s still kind of figuring out his way in the big leagues and trying to figure out his path to being really good,” manager Craig Counsell said. “But we think that all the ingredients are there, and that we’re getting a guy who’s just getting better. And that’s exciting.”

A former highly touted pitching prospect, Pearson has dealt with frequent injuries and pitched over 65 innings just once in his eight-year professional career (four in the big leagues). Pearson owns a 5.21 ERA over 93 appearances (five starts) in the Majors, but his 12.0 K/9 rate in 2021 and 11.5 K/9 mark in ‘24 give the Cubs reason to believe Pearson hasn’t tapped into his full potential out of the ‘pen. He was the 28th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, rising to become baseball’s No. 8 prospect ahead of the '20 season, according to MLB Pipeline.

Pearson relies on his fastball-slider combination for a majority (86% combined usage) of his pitches. He averages 97.6 mph with his heater, which is in the 95th percentile of fastball velocity. His 28.0% strikeout rate ranks in the 84th percentile.

“One of the things with Nate is that he’s been with Toronto for a long time,” Counsell said. “He was drafted by them, has spent his whole career with them and tomorrow will be his first day wearing a different uniform. That’s a big deal to players.

“This is a big move for him, and I think there’s some really good things around that. Just being around some new voices and new people for the first time. But you also don’t want to rush that. You kind of just let it happen a little bit. But we’re excited to get what we think is a really talented arm.”

Counsell didn’t have a specific role in mind out of the ‘pen for Pearson as of pregame Saturday, but he will get opportunities in a Cubs bullpen that is full of trade chips.

Chicago may still move relief pitchers such as Mark Leiter Jr., Jorge López, Julian Merryweather, Tyson Miller and Drew Smyly before Tuesday, but Pearson gives the club a righty who could excel in a new environment while the Cubs look to compete in 2025 and ‘26.

To do that, the Cubs could focus the rest of the Trade Deadline on high-upside bats, particularly at catcher. Chicago, which ranks 14th in the NL in runs scored, has been shut out in three of its past six games and received little offensive production from behind the plate or at third base this season.

Rivera, a 23-year-old infielder, was a third-round pick just a year ago out of the University of Florida, but he has struggled in Double-A Tennessee with a .169 average in 68 games. Pinango, a 22-year-old outfielder, has a .797 OPS between High-A South Bend and Double-A this season, but Chicago is seeking pieces that can help in the immediate future to support its core of Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, Seiya Suzuiki and potentially Cody Bellinger, who has player options in both 2025 and ‘26.

This is not expected to be the Cubs’ final move before the July 30 Trade Deadline, with Jameson Taillon also receiving interest from other clubs, but Pearson will have the opportunity to step into the ‘pen and find his role, especially if other relief options are moved.