Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Nate Pearson has been traded to the Chicago Cubs, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. Pearson has struggled this season with a 5.63 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and a 17:51 BB:K ratio across 40 innings. The 27-year-old has typically been deployed in the seventh and eighth innings of games. Despite his poor ratios, Pearson carries a strong 28.0% K rate and 28.2% whiff rate which place him in the top 84th and 72nd percentile among all pitchers, respectively. Pearson will likely have a similar high-leverage role in the Cubs bullpen and could earn a handful of save opportunities in the second half of the season. UPDATE: The Blue Jays will receive infielder Josh Rivera and outfielder Yhendrick Pinango in exchange for Pearson. Rivera was considered Chicago's No. 23 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, while Pinango was ranked as the Cubs' No. 29 prospect.
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Nate Pearson managed to secure his first save of the season in Monday's 6-5 win over the Royals. Pearson came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff single, got the first two outs on a groundout and a line-out, allowed another single, and stranded the tying run at third with a strikeout. Closer Jordan Romano had pitched in each of the last two days, so Pearson was called upon. The former prospect has a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of work this season, but his fantasy value will remain limited until he can routinely earn high-leverage situations.
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson is working on a new split-fingered fastball in camp as another pitch to complement his arsenal. "We're still working on it, but he threw some really good ones today that could be really effective at the major-league level," pitching coach Pete Walker said. Pearson is competing for a spot in the bullpen at spring training this year, and the Blue Jays view him as someone who could pitch up to three innings for them in relief. The 27-year-old hard-throwing righty has been set back by injuries early in his MLB career and continues to try and find his niche at the major-league level. So far in three seasons in Toronto, he has a 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with one save and 79 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings over 52 outings (five starts). Pearson could eventually become a high-leverage reliever, but he can be avoided for now in most fantasy leagues.
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Nate Pearson has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. The hard-throwing 26-year-old has been on and off the major league roster this season, pitching to a subpar 5.31 ERA, 1.205 WHIP, and 39:15 K/BB ratio over 39 innings (32 relief appearances). He's flashed some of the stuff that once made him a top prospect but he still has a ways to go and there's no fantasy appeal due to his low-leverage position in the Blue Jays bullpen. Relief pitcher Hagen Danner (oblique) has been placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.
The Blue Jays recalled relief pitcher Nate Pearson ahead of Saturday's meeting with the Angels. Closer Jordan Romano (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list, so the team made a move to fill the void in the bullpen. The 26-year-old owns a 4.75 ERA with 36 strikeouts this season. Although Pearson could get some chances to close out games while Romano is out, he's not someone fantasy managers can depend on.
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Nate Pearson was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday following his poor performance during Saturday's loss to the Seattle Mariners. Pearson was roughed up by the M's in Saturday's appearance, allowing four runs while only getting one out, taking the loss. The 26-year-old hurler has flashed some elite stuff at times this season, and the future is bright, but Toronto needed to make room for the recently-acquired Genesis Cabrera on their roster. Pearson owns a 4.75 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, and 36:11 K/BB ratio over 36 innings (29 appearances) on the year. He'll be back in Toronto's bullpen soon enough.
The Toronto Blue Jays officially recalled right-hander Nate Pearson from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday and placed right-hander Adam Cimber (back, shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a right rhomboid strain. Pearson, once one of Toronto's top starting pitching prospects, has moved to relief due to injuries in recent seasons. The hard-throwing 26-year-old has looked good in the early going in eight relief appearances in the minors and could eventually earn himself a high-leverage role in the back of the Blue Jays' bullpen if he keeps it going in the big leagues. Jordan Romano is the team's closer, but Pearson could be worth a look for his strikeout upside and for holds.
The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to call up right-hander Nate Pearson from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday ahead of their game against the Chicago White Sox, according to a source. Once one of Toronto's top starting pitching prospects, injuries have derailed the start of the 26-year-old's career, but he's healthy now and will likely be a high-leverage arm for the Jays out of the bullpen. In his eight relief appearances in the minors this year, Pearson allowed two runs on five hits while walking five and striking out 16 in 8 1/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers shouldn't get too excited about Pearson's arrival in the big leagues again, but he should certainly be on the radar of those that are looking for strikeouts and holds in deeper leagues. He could eventually turn into a top setup man in the back of Toronto's bullpen ahead of closer Jordan Romano.
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson has missed most of the last two seasons due to injury, which is why he isn't being stretched out as a starter in spring training this year, but instead he's preparing for a bulk role. Pearson was sitting at 96-97 mph during live batting practice this week, and pitching coach Pete Walker said he's like what he's seen so far from Pearson. The 26-year-old flamethrower lost time in 2022 due to mononucleosis and a lat strain, but he's healthy in camp and ready to contribute. Pearson won't be a starting option for fantasy managers to open the 2023 season, but if healthy, he could eventually become a high-leverage reliever in Toronto's bullpen. He has yet to pitch more than 101 2/3 innings in the big leagues.
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson (lat) could be available as early as this weekend for the team, according to interim manager John Schneider. Pearson is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday for Triple-A Buffalo as part of his minor league rehab assignment, and his potential return will depend on his outing. The 26-year-old struck out one batter and didn't give up any hits or walks in a scoreless inning in his first rehab outing on Sunday for Single-A Dunedin. He has yet to pitch in a major-league game in 2022 due to injuries. With time running out in the regular season, Pearson will likely return to a relief role in Toronto down the stretch, severely limiting his fantasy value.
