The Cubs designated Nate Pearson for assignment, according to the right-hander’s official MLB.com profile page. The move clears a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Eli Morgan, who was activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Pearson first joined the Cubs in a trade from the Blue Jays at the 2024 deadline, and he seemed to benefit from the change of scenery. After posting a 5.63 ERA in 40 innings for Toronto prior to the deal, Pearson stabilized things and posted a 2.73 ERA across 26 1/3 innings for the Cubs. Even though the secondary metrics had a less-favorable view of Pearson’s performance, it looked like he had earned himself a spot in Chicago’s bullpen picture for 2025.
However, Pearson got off to a rocky start and found himself optioned back to Triple-A by the middle of April. He has been recalled and optioned down a couple of more times since, with the end result of an ugly 9.20 ERA and more walks (10) than strikeouts (seven) over 14 2/3 innings in the Show. Pearson’s numbers in Iowa have been considerably better, yet even his 2.22 ERA and 30.6% strikeout rate over 44 2/3 Triple-A frames have come with the red flag of a 12.9% walk rate.
Walks have been a persistent issue throughout Pearson’s career, and his seemingly improved control in 2024 may have proven to be a mirage based on his 2025 numbers. He has also had a lot of trouble keeping the ball in the yard, as Pearson has allowed 28 home runs over his 156 2/3 career innings in the majors. Formerly one of baseball’s top pitching prospects during his time in the Jays’ farm system, Pearson battled injuries while in the minors, and a move to relief pitching still hasn’t allowed him to find a niche on a Major League roster.
Pearson has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, so between that team control and his past prospect pedigree, there is a chance he might get claimed as a reclamation project. Since the 29-year-old has more than three years of MLB service time, he has the right to elect free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A, assuming he clears waivers. It seems probable that the Cubs might just release Pearson if he clears waivers — since he is a clear non-tender candidate anyway, an early release would give Pearson an early jump on the offseason free agent market.
Morgan posted a 12.27 ERA over 7 1/3 innings before his season was all but erased by an inflamed ulnar nerve in his throwing arm. The righty’s last MLB appearance was on April 14, and a setback during a minor league rehab assignment in June pushed his clock back even further.
Finally returning to the mound in August, Morgan has looked quite sharp in posting a 1.69 ERA over 10 2/3 innings with the Cubs’ high-A and Triple-A affiliates. With his 30-day rehab window over, he is now back on the 40-man roster and continuing his rehab work in Iowa, and it is unclear if he might get another look in the majors before 2025 is over. Given his long layoff, it seems unlikely that Morgan would factor into Chicago’s playoff roster plans unless other pitchers get hurt.
That’s like if the Dr asks you what illness you would rather have? Cancer or MS? some of the symptoms are the same so you call it. by the way I think you all owe Alan 53 an apology because he correctly called the debacle that happened in Cincy this weekend. Why the Cubs were celebrating for just making the Playoffs was really dumb when they had a tough series coming up. They should have saved it for Monday when they were off and home. The only thing worse than this choice would be if you had to use either of these mopes. By the way if this is the offense that shows up in the Playoffs it’ll be short lived.
Bahahahahaha!! Somebody owes Alan an apology???? I think Alan owes this forum and himself an apology for the countless hours of keyboard warriorship wasting time telling us starting in May that “this” is the series that is going to knock the Cubs out of the playoffs. BAHAHAHAHA!!! Not even close…ever.
Heck, it took until sept 20 for the Cubs to be the LAST team to lose four in a row.
He’s disappeared the last week since the clinched.
He will be back once the Cubs get eliminated….because all but one do and we will get to read the drivel all winter.
Can’t wait.
Well I wasn’t going to apologize. LOL But seriously, Are you even a bit concerned that this Cubs team doesn’t move runners, Doesn’t even try most times, Has got to lead the league in leadoff doubles that never move an inch and that’s basically what Playoff baseball is about? It’s big red flag for me. What good does it do if you win the first game 11-0 and lose the next two 1-0? You go home.
Aloha Uncle, I thought for a fleeting moment it said, dfa’d hoyer or owners, lol! A little sarcastic humor you know. You Tucker is back for any of these last 6 games? From what I’ve read, the doctors and sports medical professionals say he doesn’t necessarily have to get any games in. As you know his spilts are not good between home and away but if our Cubs got past the 1st round of the WC, it would be nice to have him for those road games. Take care now. Mahalo
Personally I could care less if Tucker comes back or not. I think they can do fine with Caissie and Suzuki in RF. As long as Castro and Santana who are both basically 0 for the Cubs don’t play much if at all. Cut Santana and just use Castro for defense. Not sure what happened to him but he’s basically stunk since he got here.
It seems like yesterday he was the next big thing that was coming out of the Jays farm. Now, he’s considered a flyer/lottery ticket/project.
I really thought that he was going to be a stud for us for years. If not as a good starter but as a beast at the end of games. He’s probably second only to Travis Snider in terms of guys who didn’t pan out for us that still stings.
Pearson seems like I could benefit from a year or two overseas. Wouldn’t be the first time that a guy does that and figures something out with his game.
Travis Snider, Dustin Mcgowan, Aaron Sanchez (despite his one great year)
Look his arm is A+. But it goes to show you that no matter how hard you throw it, When you throw it straight with no movement and have no breaking pitch you can get over the plate you will get lit up in AAA and MLB. Probably Little League too.
Former blue jay throws hard extension. Hopefully Ben Cherington last move as pirates gm.
How do you throw a hard extension?
If Pearson is lucky enough to get another shot with a team that does well developing pitchers, he might still realize his potential.
Or what’s left of it.
I doubt it for the reasons I listed above. And FYI the Cubs and Hottovy are pretty good at helping guys reach their potential. It’s Hoyer’s favorite thing to do and it works out more often than not but I don’t really know why he keeps insisting on doing it. I mean just look at this years bullpen. Keller, Pomeranz, Thielbar have all been way better than anybody expected, Including me.
@kodion
Project pitcher with a couple years of cheap control through ARB.. that’s just another way of saying the Guardians isn’t it?
There is zero doubt someone will take a chance on him. His arm is way to good to just go to waste. He’s probably doomed to Minor League deals from now on. His breaking ball is just too easy to pick up and moves too much and big league hitters just take it until they walk or get a straight ball right down the middle. I just doubt that it will ever really come together for him. See Carlos Marmol.
Pearson, thus far in his MLB career, is the classic example of a pitcher with great stuff, but no idea where it’s going. He certainly got plenty of chances in a Cubs uniform. Good luck to him, and good luck to the next organization that tries to unlock his full potential.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are limping into the post-season. Anything can happen, yes, but I certainly hope they can get a bit of momentum over the final six games of the season.
What an unholy mess the Cubs are. It is a sign of how messed up things are that they had a champagne clubhouse celebration for showing that they are in the top 40 percent of the National League.
The sooner this nauseating season is over, the better, and it will end October 1 in San Diego.
Its quite amazing how, with all the options in the world, an old man would consider being miserable every single time.
It was incredibly refreshing for the Cubs to clinch and him go dark for a week….but lo and behold… let’s grab the platform of the Cubs are going to lose in San Diego now. I guess you spin the roulette wheel 38 times, you’re going get one right.
Amazing how hes back after the Cubs finally become the last team to lose four in a row but how holed up he was when they won seven of the previous eight.
And by the way, Cam Smith has had a pretty solid part of the recent month off. No need to take yesterday off as well. Poor example to express the political views.
The arrow has been pointing down since the ASG. Thinking this team can just start playing good baseball because they blew a 5 game lead in July to being 7 out in September is hilarious. Winning under pressure isn’t a Cub thing, never has been.
I love Nate Pearson so I hope the Blue Jays bring him back
You know I have no idea why people keep trying to insert themselves into the whole mess that is going on right now. Other than the fact there is absolutely no good reason ever to shoot anybody, One wonders why people have picked this hill to die on so to speak.
Probably because they were told to do so.
It could be argued that we all have *been* inserted, whether we like it or not–but I won’t argue that. I will argue that I love my country, and its IDEA and its potential, and that everyone should. It is our *patria*, our homeland.
But as Worsworth wrote about other troubled times: “The world is too much with us.”
Well I have zero idea who that is but the quote is dumb. As it always is there is no side that is totally right or totally wrong the answer lies someplace in the middle. That comes from Unclemike.
William Wordsworth, the father of English Romantic poetry. It is the first line of one of his most famous poems, a sonnet. The next line is: “Getting and spending we lay waste our powers.”
I never thought about it, but that line is applicable to the egregious Hoyer, always spinning his wheels but achieving very little.
Well I never read poetry and that’s just a way of saying a bunch of words that mean nothing. Which by the way is an impressive feat that Hoyer and Hawkins have mastered.
Someone will take a flyer on Pearson. There is a class of not-quite-big-league players who wander as nomads from team to team. And, while few of them will ever graduate to be true major leaguers, it’s hard to fault anyone for pursuing their career goal. We see them as losers, but that is not how they see themselves.
I’d like to see him with the Royals. It seems like they have a bullpen with high velo guys who don’t seek Ks and throw enough strikes. Seems like a lot of them throw multiple fastballs. If you cut his four seam usage and introduced a sinker or cutter, maybe he could live in the zone a bit more? Thinking about guys like Lucas Erceg, Steven Cruz, Angel Zerpa, Taylor Clarke. Try to stay off barrels more than trying to miss bats. I don’t follow the Royals pitching development that closely but took notice of their relievers at the deadline and it looks like they’ve been able to get guys to change up their pitch mix to some success.
One and done!!! Cubs choking at exactly the wrong time. So typical cubs
R the cubs still going to win 90 because that was the goal going into the season then everything great if the did by accomplishing that modest goal?
Both the dbacks and red cannot count on help from the choking cubs!