Nate Pearson traded to Cubs

[hanton]

Your fangraphs rating is from before the season started, the one I provided is the mid season update. Both of Baseball America and MLB Pipeline place these two players in the Cubs top 30. I would guess the fact that Nate is out of options for next season likely also plays into the club moving him out despite the fact he's finally managed to remain healthy.

 

yes I stated it was the ranking going into 2024, thanks for the updated ranking, what about Rivera?

 

I normally start paying attention to prospects once they're in the top 20

[Laika]

The prospects suck but so does Pearson

 

Sadly, he's close to a waiver claim kind of reliever at this point

 

Yes, you can get guys who throw high 90s for cash all the time

[metafour]

nothing which is why you keep him plus he has 2 more years of control. Plus I'm just going by Fangraphs rankings

 

They have likely tried everything with Pearson at this point. Big deal he has "2 more years of control" - he isn't developing into anything here, in which case you may as well hope to get lucky with a low-tier prospect. Its also better for the player to get a fresh start elsewhere.

[metafour]

Rivera was their 3rd round pick last year (Senior out of Florida):

 

[Carlos Danger]

yes I stated it was the ranking going into 2024, thanks for the updated ranking, what about Rivera?

 

I normally start paying attention to prospects once they're in the top 20

 

Fantrax has Rivera as a FV35, which is about what you would expect for Big Nate.

[Jimcanuck]

Baseball America just updated their top 30 yesterday.

 

17. Yohendrick Pinango

OF

 

Ht: 5'11" | Wt: 170 | B-T: L-L

 

Age: null

 

BA Grade: 45/High

 

Track Record: Signed for $400,000 during the 2018 international signing period, Pinango produced over his first few seasons with the organization showing advanced plate skills. Pinango added power in 2022 hitting 13 home runs but posting the lowest batting average and on-base percentage of his career. Things continued to slide in 2023 before Pinango recommitted to his approach heading into 2024.

 

Scouting Report: It’s been a whirlwind few seasons for Pinango as his choice to hit for more power came at the expense of his approach. Repeating High-A for the third consecutive season Pinango has found the best balance of plate skills and power of his career. Early in 2024 Pinango has shown a dramatic improvement in swing decisions, as he cut his chase rate from 31% in 2023 to 18% over the first month of the season. This has led to improvements to Pinango’s already above-average bat to ball skills. Pinango’s underlying power data is plus with a 90th percentile over 106.5 mph for the second consecutive season. If the approach changes hold, Pinango could be a major riser in 2024. Pinango is a below-average athlete and runner with an average arm. He’s a best fit for left field or first base long term.

 

The Future: A bat-first corner prospect with an intriguing set of skills, Pinango’s ceiling is a second-division regular.

 

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50.

 

 

On Rivera, the #60 ranked prospect in the 2023 draft:

 

A standout senior season at Florida did little to help ease shortstop Josh Rivera into a pro routine after four years with the Gators.

 

The Cubs drafted Rivera in the third round last year and pushed him to High-A South Bend. A late surge at the plate pushed his batting line to .250/.320/.402 with two home runs.

 

Part of the 23-year-old Rivera’s adjustment at the plate has centered on developing a more consistent posture.

 

“Most of the swing adjustments I’ve made are to create better angles, try to create more space for myself to get to pitches,” Rivera said. “I’ve always been someone who puts the ball in play hard on the ground, and I’m trying to elevate it a little more, get the ball in the air.

 

A key for Rivera has been trusting his hands and working through the middle of the field, rather than adjusting his posture to contend with inside fastballs.

 

Rivera popped 19 home runs as a Florida senior and will need to continue to develop his power as he advances to Double-A Tennessee and the upper levels of the system to complement his steady up-the-middle profile.

 

Rivera is known for his contact ability and spraying the ball to all parts of the field, but he knows it comes down to trusting in his ability to hit the ball over the fence.

 

“The higher levels we get to, (pitchers) have better stuff,” Rivera said. “They’re supplying all the power for us, so we can lose sight of that and try to do too much. That’s when you start rolling over and swinging and missing.”

 

Rivera was chosen a few times to be a backup in Cactus League games and logged three at-bats. He got to observe how major leaguers prepare for a game and then execute, even small details such as “their first step in the infield, their first step when they’re on base.

 

“It’s kind of amazing when you watch these games because you just see how in tune everybody is and everything flows together.”

[Carlos Danger]

Josh Rivera #43 ranked prospect

 

I would not rely to much on system rankings. Our #2 would probably be #15 in other systems..

[Laika]

Still very interesting that they traded Pearson

 

It shows that the reports of Toronto only trading rentals were false

 

Open for business???

[Carlos Danger]

Still very interesting that they traded Pearson

 

It shows that the reports of Toronto only trading rentals were false

 

Open for business???

 

Hope so, BALLS IN I say!!

[Joltin Joe]

I don't know, what a mess.

 

Pearson had so much promise a few years. Probably be another Hoffman

[Jimcanuck]

They are on the right path, load up on top 30s from other teams. It only takes a few from the group to make it worth it.

[Jimcanuck]

By the way, Pearson is easily, easily replaced.

[metafour]

I don't know, what a mess.

 

Pearson had so much promise a few years. Probably be another Hoffman

 

So a guy who only becomes worth anything at age 30/31 on his 3rd MLB team?

 

Sometimes you need to just accept that a team can't carry every "promising" player for 6+ seasons of non-production in the off chance that something magically is going to happen in the unforeseeable future. You also need to accept that sometimes players just need to go elsewhere to clear their heads or find something new. The fact that Hoffman succeeded eventually in Philly does not mean that the same would have happened in Colorado Or Cincinnati - both of whom also controlled his rights.

 

These reactions always kill me. Complain that a player sucks/is a bust and isn't providing any value, and then complain when he is traded because "what if they become good!".

[BatFlip]

100%

 

I'd say closer to 0%.

[Terminator]

Pearson has to go down as one of the biggest busts in franchise history

[Jonn]

Don't really understand this trade at all.

 

Pearson will make nothing in arb. Why not just try a couple more years to get him to figure it out. He just started throwing the 2-seamer. Giving up on him at 27 just seems stupid. Especially considering he's now been mostly healthy and still has times he looks dominant just not consistent.

 

Feel good for him. Going to an organization that might actually be able to turn him into something. Lord knows this team can't develop pitching.

[Carlos Danger]

Don't really understand this trade at all.

 

Pearson will make nothing in arb. Why not just try a couple more years to get him to figure it out. He just started throwing the 2-seamer. Giving up on him at 27 just seems stupid. Especially considering he's now been mostly healthy and still has times he looks dominant just not consistent.

 

Feel good for him. Going to an organization that might actually be able to turn him into something. Lord knows this team can't develop pitching.

 

He has no options next year. Have to keep him on the MLB roster or DFA him if he sucks. You can get more value now at the deadline.

[Jonn]

He has no options next year. Have to keep him on the MLB roster or DFA him if he sucks. You can get more value now at the deadline.

 

We didn't get any value period. We traded a guy who can pitch in the big leagues for 2 guys that will likely never make it. They aren't even overly young lol.

[Laika]

You have to think about the overall direction

 

Individually all of the bats acquired for Pearson and Yimi will probably bust. But if you collect six of those prospects and just one of them becomes an average regular, you are in deep profit.

[MikeM3]

Atkins admitting defeat on a 1st rounder who still has control or someone else calling the shots now?

[hanton]

Don't really understand this trade at all.

 

Pearson will make nothing in arb. Why not just try a couple more years to get him to figure it out. He just started throwing the 2-seamer. Giving up on him at 27 just seems stupid. Especially considering he's now been mostly healthy and still has times he looks dominant just not consistent.

 

Feel good for him. Going to an organization that might actually be able to turn him into something. Lord knows this team can't develop pitching.

 

agree. He just developed that new pitch - IIRC hardly used it though which is weird. Whate a waste.

[glory]

The Jays clearly did not want to deal with Pearson when he has no minor league options next year. It did start to feel like if Pearson ever panned out it would be somewhere else. Let's see what the Cubs can do with him. Personally, I would have kept him and stretched him out in the Spring. Chances are that would have failed too but it's not like the Jays are swimming in SP depth, so it would have been worth a shot. Either way this seems like a whole bunch of meh all the way around.

[Jimcanuck]

Don't really understand this trade at all.

 

Pearson will make nothing in arb. Why not just try a couple more years to get him to figure it out. He just started throwing the 2-seamer. Giving up on him at 27 just seems stupid. Especially considering he's now been mostly healthy and still has times he looks dominant just not consistent.

 

Feel good for him. Going to an organization that might actually be able to turn him into something. Lord knows this team can't develop pitching.

 

You can look at it this way.

 

(1) Pearson has been mediocre / inconsistent

(2) Jays unlikely to be good between now and Pearson reaching FA

(3) Pearson is easily replaced

(4) Cubs were willing to overpay

[Carlos Danger]

We didn't get any value period. We traded a guy who can pitch in the big leagues for 2 guys that will likely never make it. They aren't even overly young lol.

 

Pearson is not good. You will get more value now than if you have to DFA him in April of 2025.

[metafour]

We didn't get any value period. We traded a guy who can pitch in the big leagues for 2 guys that will likely never make it. They aren't even overly young lol.

 

Pearson can pitch in the big leagues? He is a reliever who gives up almost 2 HR/9 and has no success whatsoever in terms of stranding baserunners. Those are literally your two most important RP metrics.

 

You can find undrafted kids on Youtube who throw 100mph.

[Abomination]

This is a stupid trade. We're basically getting organizational fillers for a guy who isn't making anything for the next few years and is a tweak away from being very good. I can't imagine a deal like this wouldn't have been available in the offseason regardless of how the rest of this season went.

[BTS]

I know that Pearson sucks, but I'm having a really hard time buying the "we're going to compete in 2025" nonsense. Aside from multiple impact bats and at least two starters they're going to need an entire bullpen. What to they have going into 2025?

 

Green - might be traded

Cabrera - should be non-tendered

Swanson - should be non-tendered

Romano - should maybe be non-tendered

Pop - sucks

Little - sucks

 

Like, it's going to require significant investment to get that to the caliber of a contending team. In addition to all of the other improvements they have to make. It's insulting to keep telling fans that they want to win next year.

[Terminator]

Jonn isnÂ’t completely wrong but the problem with Pearson is that he has to be on the 26 man roster. He might have negative value because of that.

 

Rivera I donÂ’t think has to be on the 40 man and the Dominican guy just has to be on the 40 man starting next year and has options. Both kind of suck but are in situations where can take a look at them without running into roster crunch problems.

 

And donÂ’t forget, we are going to be adding plenty of guys to the 40 man this deadline. Dumping Pearson frees a spot.

[Terminator]

Jonn isnÂ’t completely wrong but the problem with Pearson is that he has to be on the 26 man roster. He might have negative value because of that.

 

Rivera I donÂ’t think has to be on the 40 man and the Dominican guy just has to be on the 40 man starting next year and has options. Both kind of suck but are in situations where can take a look at them without running into roster crunch problems.

 

And donÂ’t forget, we are going to be adding plenty of guys to the 40 man this deadline. Dumping Pearson frees a spot.

 

So basically this is a move with serious 40 man roster considerations

[Jonn]

Pearson is not good. You will get more value now than if you have to DFA him in April of 2025.

 

I think your missing the point. They didn't get any value now period. Whether they traded him now or later made no difference. This move didn't scream we needed to do this right now. They got 2 nothing burgers.