Just a week removed from Jed Hoyer telling the media any moves at the trade deadline would be focused on “2025 and beyond”, Chicago’s President of Baseball Operations made a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays bringing flamethrowing reliever Nate Pearson to the baby bears. It’s a move that will only improve a bullpen that’s comfortably bested Major League Baseball in FIP since July 1 (2.49).
For Chicago
While the dreams of Pearson developing into a starting pitcher died in 2021 due to injuries and control woes, he’s rebuilt some of his value on the mound with big stuff coming out of the bullpen. He’s currently running a 5.63 ERA, though he’s been a touch unlucky as evidenced by a 4.62 FIP and .356 opposing BABIP. Pearson has 40 innings under his belt this season and will likely reach a career-high in innings-pitched in 2024.
Primarily a two-pitch specialist, Pearson throws his four-seamer and slider 86 percent of the time. He’ll flirt with triple digits on the heater although it’s too often negated by catching the meaty part of the plate. Improving his command for that pitch could unlock a new gear and potential high-leverage upside. The slider however, is a real weapon. It’s an upper-80s breaker with shorter two-plane break. That pitch has produced a near 41-percent whiff rate this season and represents a true out pitch. He’ll also occasionally flip in a curveball, though that pitch too often misses arm-side and can get him in trouble when it backs up.
Pearson comes with more than two years of control and won’t be a free agent until the 2026 season ends. He still possesses 8th inning leverageable upside if control for the fastball ever comes.
For Toronto
Toronto is acquiring left field prospect Yohendrick Pinango, 22, in the deal.
Pinango ranked as the no. 32 overall prospect in the Cubs system in our preseason ranks. He was set to jump into the top 20 in our midseason update. Pinango’s batted-ball data has ticked up in recent seasons and now projects at least above average raw power. His overall hit tool profile has also ticked up in 2024 at High-A South Bend, though it’s been tested and streaky flashing some 2023 trends since being promoted to Double-A Tennessee. He’s currently slashing .223/.316/.345 at Double-A with five homers. His 12.3 percent strikeout rate and 16.4 percent walk rate have scouts bullish the offensive tools will once again be represented in the slash line.
As a whole, Pinango has shown improved pitch selection and in-zone metrics this season. His limited athleticism will keep him in left field at the next level.
Importantly, Pinango will need to be added to the 40-man this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Toronto is also acquiring shortstop Josh Rivera in the deal. Rivera, a third round pick in the 2023 draft, ranked as the no. 24 prospect in the Cubs system this preseason. He was not going to make the top-30 cut in our midseason update. Rivera has struggled to adjust to bigger stuff from opposing pitchers and was slashing .169/.277/.260 at Double-A Tennessee. His longer bat path has led to more whiffs than what he showed at the University of Florida ultimately negating what is solid-average raw power. The defensive actions remain strong and Rivera has done a nice job not allowing his woes at the plate to leak into his reliability on the dirt.
Considering the control years, athleticism, up-the-middle profile and lack of pressure to be placed on the 40-man roster, the case can be made Rivera is still a considerably better prospect than Pinango from a value/gamble perspective.
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