For the last couple of years, the Cubs have acquired former Houston Astros relievers, notably Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly.
As you know, neither one of those worked out for the Cubs and both were unconditionally
released by the team mid-season.
Now, the Astros are going to try the reverse signing move by acquiring a former Cubs reliever:
Nate Pearson was acquired by the Cubs from the Blue Jays July 27, 2024 for a pair of minor leaguers, Yohendrick Pinango and Josh Rivera, neither of whom has played in the major leagues yet.
Pearson pitched pretty well down the stretch in 2024 for the Cubs: 2.73 ERA, 0.987 WHIP in 19 games, and was part of the Cubs’ combined no-hitter with Shōta Imanaga and Porter Hodge.
But Pearson pitched poorly early this season and was sent to Triple-A Iowa in mid-April. Recalled in June, Pearson pitched in one game against the Mariners and got shelled for five runs in two innings, then was sent back to Iowa. Recalled again in early August, he pitched in two games and didn’t allow a run in four innings, then was sent back to the minor leagues. The Cubs released him Sept. 21.
Pearson was the Blue Jays’ No. 1 pick (28th overall) in 2017, chosen the pick after the Cubs selected Brendon Little, who, oddly enough, is now with the Blue Jays. Pearson was a Top 100 prospect for several years, but his talent never quite panned out. He threw hard, but rarely threw strikes (10.7 percent walk rate, which is pretty high).
He turned 29 in September and clearly, it was time for the Cubs to move on. I wish him the best going forward.
The $1.35 million the Astros will be paying him is exactly what he got from the Cubs in 2025, just so you get an idea of what teams are thinking for guys like this.
As always, we await developments.
