Josh

Rivera

Rivera is the headliner in the deal for Chicago as he won’t need to be added to their 40-man roster until after the 2026 season after being selected in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida. The 23-year-old infielder hasn’t torn the cover off the ball this season for Double-A Tennessee, batting .169/.277/.260 with four homers and seven steals. There wasn’t much of a path for him to reach Chicago down the line with top prospects Matt Shaw, James Triantos and Jefferson Rojas standing in his way.

If there was any doubt the Blue Jays were going to be sellers at next week’s trade deadline, this represents the latest indication that they’re headed for a full-scale teardown. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and Arden Zwelling report a pair of prospect — infielder Josh Rivera and outfielder Yohendrick Pinango — are heading back to Toronto. It’s a solid acquisition for the Cubs since Pearson has a few years left before reaching free agency and should help bolster their high-leverage mix. The 27-year-old former top pitching prospect never quite blossomed into the elite fantasy starter many envisioned, but he’s made an impact as a solid reliever the last few years.