The Blue Jays have traded reliever Nate Pearson to the Chicago Cubs. This is the second trade the Blue Jays have made in two days. Yesterday, they traded reliever Yimi Garcia to the Seattle Mariners. In return, the Blue Jays are getting two prospects: an outfielder named Yohendrick Pinango and an infielder named Josh Rivera. Pinago plays left field, is 22 years old, and is coming from AA. Rivera is a shortstop who was the Cubs’ 23rd-ranked prospect.
The Cubs have acquired reliever Nate Pearson from the Blue Jays pic.twitter.com/9HW3fftvEq
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 27, 2024
Cubs Acquire Blue Jays Reliever
Pearson Is A Cub
It’s no surprise that the Blue Jays are sellers this season. They have now traded Pearson 49-56 Cubs. Pearson has a 0-1 record this season with a 5.63 ERA and two saves. He was a true top prospect before debuting with Toronto, and it’s unfortunate for fans that things didn’t work out as anticipated for him. Could a new environment for Pearson help to revamp his game? Maybe the Cubs could help mend him. He has the skill set to be a dominant closer, but he couldn’t reach that goal with the Blue Jays. A change of scenery could certainly help change that. Pearson has been with the Blue Jays since 2020. The Cubs are betting that Pearson will make a turnaround in his performance.
His best season was in 2023, where he sported a 5-2 record with a 4.85 ERA. Even in the Blue Jays blowout 13-0 loss to the Rays, Pearson could take down batters with his fastball. So, the Cubs are gaining a reliever with a solid fastball. If they can straighten him out, he could do damage. The Boston Red Sox were also in the hunt for Pearson. Fans have watched him for years, hoping he would turn the corner with his early potential. Injuries and missed play have impacted him, and the clock is ticking to turn things around. The 27-year-old is 6.6 in height and a right-handed pitcher with solid potential in the bullpen and needs a fresh slate. The Blue Jays believe Pearson will succeed in a new home. Following the Pearson trade, the Blue Jays now have Chad Green, Erik Swanson, Trevor Richards, Génesis Cabrera, Brendon Little Zach Pop, and Yerry Rodríguez in the pen.
Main Photo Credits: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
