Forgotten Cubs prospect has arrived with the Blue Jays in a reminder of a trade deadline dud

The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline was an odd one for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were good enough to be considered buyers, but not good enough for Jed Hoyer to rule out selling a piece or two. Threading the needle would be the way to describe how Hoyer acted, as he was looking for pieces that could help the major league roster but were also under control beyond just that season.

One of those trades was Hoyer giving up outfield prospect Yohendrick Piñango to the Toronto Blue Jays for Nate Pearson. Pearson was flamed-out first round pick for the Blue Jays, but it was clear to see why Hoyer was drawn to his profile. Pearson had a fastball approaching triple digits, and if he could figure out his command, he could've been an effective high-leverage pitcher for the Cubs for multiple years.

Instead, Pearson was merely an up-and-down arm for the Cubs before he was released at the end of the 2025 season. He's currently working his way back from injury with the Houston Astros and should be added to their bullpen in the weeks ahead.

Safe to say this Jed Hoyer trade didn't work out

Meanwhile, based on early returns, the Cubs may have sold too soon on Piñango. The 24-year-old made his debut with the Blue Jays earlier this season and is looking like an immediate contributor. Through his first 39 plate appearances, Piñango had a slash line of .361/.410/.417 with a wRC+ of 138.

It would have been hard for Piñango to carve out playing time in Chicago. At the time he was traded, the Cubs had Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger, and Seiya Suzuki in the outfield with Pete Crow-Armstrong gravitating toward becoming an everyday player. Even last season, the Cubs had Kyle Tucker in right field with Suzuki serving as designated hitter.

In other words, it's the type of trade that Hoyer should be expected to make. Piñango was an ascending but blocked prospect. The project that was Pearson didn't work out for the Cubs, but it was an admirable attempt.

That type of trade is one that Cubs fans may want to keep in mind ahead of the trade deadline this season. Jefferson Rojas and Pedro Ramirez are ascending prospects, but their path to playing time in Chicago may be blocked. They could be available in trade talks, though Hoyer will need to aim higher than a pitcher like Pearson this time around.

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