Former Blue Jays first-round draft pick DFA'd by Cubs

At the 2017 MLB Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays were eager to land a first-round draft pick who they foresaw as someone who could one day be an anchor on the roster. With the 28th overall pick in the draft, the Blue Jays selected right-handed pitcher Nate Pearson.

Pearson made his debut in 2020 under much pomp and circumstance after being touted as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. While Pearson struggled in his first big league stint he still contributed to the Blue Jays making the postseason that year. However, by 2024 Pearson was out of Toronto when the Blue Jays traded him away to the Chicago Cubs for minor leaguers Yohendrick Pinango and Josh Rivera.

Pearson became expendable by the Blue Jays who were in the middle of a losing season. He had pitched to a 5.63 ERA in 40 innings with the Blue Jays, but bounced back for the Cubs with a 2.73 ERA in 26 innings. Now, the 29-year-old pitcher is searching for a new MLB team to play for.

Cubs DFA Pearson

The Cubs recently decided to DFA Pearson with less than one week remaining in the 2025 regular season as he wasn't able to replicate those numbers after the trade. With the Cubs clinching a spot in the 2025 postseason and Pearson struggling, it may have been best on both sides that the DFA move was made. 2025 has been arguably Pearson's worst season in his career.

In 11 games pitched with the Cubs this season, Pearson has an 0-1 record with a 9.20 ERA and hasn't pitched in an MLB game since August, throwing less than 15 innings. In his career while pitching in 123 games, Pearson has a 5.17 ERA.

Pearson may get a chance to ply his trade elsewhere as he put up good numbers in Triple-A Iowa with a 2.22 ERA and a 30.6% strikeout rate in 44 innings. He also has two years left of arbitration eligibility meaning he will be a fairly inexpensive option for any team that is looking for a reclamation project going into 2026.