TORONTO—The Toronto Blue Jays traded Nate Pearson to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, according to multiple industry sources. The team parted ways with the 2017 first-round pick, once the crown jewel of its farm system, who struggled to translate his immense talent to the big leagues.
Coming back are two low-level prospects – double-A outfielder Yohendrick Pinango, ranked as the No. 17 prospect in the Cubs system by Baseball America, and infielder Josh Rivera, according to the sources.
Pinango, 22, is hitting .223/.316/.345 in 55 games with Tennessee after posting a 1.061 OPS in 29 games during his fourth time through high-A South Bend this season.
Rivera, a 23-year-old third-round pick of the Cubs in 2023, is batting .169/.277/.260 in 68 games with Tennessee.
The return is demonstrative of where Pearson’s value has gone since he was ranked as baseball’s seventh-best prospect by Baseball America in 2020.
Now 27, Pearson debuted as a starter in 2020 but then fought through injuries before getting right in 2023, when he transitioned into a bullpen role. He showed flashes of dominance with his triple-digit velocity that year, striking out 43 batters in 42.2 innings with a 1.266 WHIP, but he took steps back this year, posting a 5.63 ERA in 40 innings over 41 appearances despite 51 strikeouts.
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