Cubs Acquire RHP Nate Pearson from Blue Jays

I’m at my son’s game, so the media release will have to do the heavy lifting here. In a nutshell, the 27-year-old Nate Pearson is under club control through 2026. The prospects the Cubs traded, shortstop Josh Rivera and outfielder Yohendrick Piñango, were essentially organizational depth.

The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Nate Pearson from the Toronto Blue Jays for infielder Josh Rivera and outfielder Yohendrick Piñango. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Jesús Tinoco has been designated for assignment.

Pearson, 27, has gone 0-1 with two saves, a 5.63 ERA (25 ER/40.0 IP) and 51 strikeouts in 41 games, all in relief, for the Toronto Blue Jays this season. His 11.47 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, second-most among Toronto’s relievers, ranks 12th among A.L. relievers (min. 40 appearances), and would be good for 10th best in the N.L. Pearson has allowed not allowed more than one run in 34 of his 41 outings and surrendered more than two runs just three times.

The six-foot six-inch righty is 7-4 with three saves and a 5.21 ERA (67 ER/115.2 IP) in 93 career major league games, all but five out of the bullpen. He has struck out 130 batters, compared to 60 walks, with a .246 opponent batting average and a 1.46 WHIP over parts of four seasons with the Blue Jays.

Pearson was selected by Toronto in the first round (28th overall) of the 2017 draft out of College of Central Florida and made his major league debut July 29, 2020, in a start against the Washington Nationals (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 SO, 2 BB). Over six minor league seasons, he is 8-10 with two saves, a 2.61 ERA (55 ER/190.0) and a 0.98 WHIP in 41 starts and 38 relief appearances combined.

Rivera, 23, was hitting .169 (37-for-219) with four home runs in 68 games with the Tennessee Smokies this season, his first campaign at the Double-A level. The Sebring, Fla., native was selected by the Cubs in the third round of the 2023 draft.

Piñango, 22, batted .263 (78-for-297) with 18 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and a .363 OBP in 84 games between High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee in 2024. The outfielder out of Carora, Venezuela was signed by the Cubs to a minor league contract as a free agent on July 2, 2018.

Tinoco, 29, has made two scoreless appearances (4.0 IP) with the Cubs since being acquired from the Kansas City Royals on July 16.