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The Blue Jays figured to be in the eye of the trade storm as the clock ticks before next Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline.
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A day after parting ways with Yimi Garcia, who was dealt to Seattle for two prospects, the Jays sent Nate Pearson to Chicago where he’ll join the Cubs.
Pearson was way over-hyped by the media and, naturally, did not live up to the inflated expectations, despite some few moments of elite pitching.
Trading Pearson should not have much of impact on the Jays moving forward.
What will resonate is the crushing news surrounding Ricky Tiedemann, the oft-injured left-hander who will undergo Tommy John surgery on July 30, the same day as MLB’s trade deadline.
Tiedemann has not been able to stay healthy.
There was a thought, foolishly with the benefit of hindsight, that he may even pitch for the Blue Jays at some point this season.
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No shot now following Saturday’s news in the hours leading up to first pitch in the second game of a three-game series against the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers, who were walked off in a 6-5 loss Friday night.
Tiedemann was the Jays’ No. 1 pitching prospect.
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The club’s No. 1 hitting prospect, Orelvis Martinez, is in the midst of serving an MLB-imposed 80-game suspension for PED use.
The hope with Tiedemann is that he’ll be fully healed for the start of spring training in 2026.
Toronto’s depth has taken a toll following injury losses to Alek Manoah and Jordan Romano.
Yusei Kikuchi, who started Friday’s game, is certain to be traded, while there’s mounting talk of Chad Green possibly being moved before Tuesday.
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In return for Pearson, the Blue Jays will receive outfielder Yohendrick Pinango and shortstop Josh Rivera from the Cubs, two prospects whom a few insist have upside knowing only time will tell.
Time ran out on Pearson, who lacked control on far too many nights and would often get hit hard when outs were required.
Pearson won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season.
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A 2017 first-round pick of the Blue Jays, Pearson has struggled the past two years, but it’s been pronounced in 2024 as evidence by his 5.63 ERA.
At one point, Pearson was the Blue Jays’ top pitching prospect.
In fact, he was projected to be a front-line starter.
Pearson, 27, has touched 100 m.p.h. on his fastball, but he’s also surrendered eight long balls this season.
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Maybe a change in scenery will serve Pearson well because he has not pitched well for the Blue Jays.
And when he did, Pearson could not sustain it.
In his final three appearances for the Blue Jays, which consists of a total of 3.2 innings, Pearson gave up seven hits, including two home runs, and six earned runs.
To think Pearson entered the 2020 season as baseball’s No. 8 prospect and one quickly concedes that he has generally been underwhelming, all the hype notwithstanding.
The Blue Jays will be in the Windy City to play the Cubs for a three-game series beginning Aug. 16.
Tiedemann went on the IL in late April because of an ulnar nerve inflammation in his left elbow.
When he progressed to Triple-A earlier this month, Tiedemann left his first start because of tightness in his left forearm after one inning.
Pinango, 22, reached double-A Tennessee for the first time this season, but he is Rule 5 draft-eligible this coming off-season.
Rivera, 23, was drafted last year in the third round, but has struggled with Tennessee this season, posting a .169 batting average and .277 on-base percentage.
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