KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Three days before the MLB trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs made their first move.
The Cubs on Saturday acquired right-hander Nate Pearson from the Toronto Blue Jays, the team announced. In exchange, the Cubs sent two prospects — outfielder Yohendrick Pinango and shortstop Josh Rivera — to the Blue Jays.
Pinango, 22, reached Double-A Tennessee for the first time this season and has posted a .223/.316/.345 slash line in 55 games. He is Rule 5 draft-eligible this offseason. Rivera, 23, was a third-round pick last year and has struggled offensively this season with Tennessee. He has recorded only 10 extra-base hits in 253 plate appearances while posting a .169 average and .277 on-base percentage.
The move aligns with the type of deals president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer indicated this week that the Cubs would pursue in the lead-up to Tuesday’s trade deadline: players who can help the team next year and beyond.
Pearson, 27, won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season.
A 2017 first-round pick of the Blue Jays, Pearson has struggled the last two years, particularly this season. Pitching in relief, Pearson owns a 5.23 ERA in 82 2/3 innings over 76 appearances between 2023-24. He is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 41 outings in 2024.
