The Cubs have already started their pitching reunion tour, and it may not be done yet.
Over the weekend, Chicago brought back Aaron Civale in a minor trade with the Athletics, a move that came with Jameson Taillon expected to return this week. That gives Craig Counsell a real shot at lining up a full starting five for what feels like the first time in months.
The Cubs also recently welcomed Drew Pomeranz back into the mix after he left in free agency following his strong 2025 season in Chicago, though that comeback has been rocky. In six appearances this year, the veteran left-hander has put up a 7.94 ERA and 9.45 FIP, and he was designated for assignment ahead of Monday’s game against Detroit.
Still, the Cubs may not be finished circling back to familiar arms.
Houston designated Nate Pearson for assignment, opening the door for another possible return to Chicago. According to Chandler Rome, Pearson has no minor-league options left, and the Astros had not made an official announcement at the time of the report.
Ray Delgado is in the Astros’ clubhouse. Nate Pearson is packing his bags and getting hugs from teammates.
Pearson does not have minor-league options remaining and, according to a source, has been DFA’d. No official word from the Astros yet.
- Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 19, 2026
Pearson’s first run with the Cubs came at the 2024 trade deadline, when the team sent top-30 prospects Yohendrick Piñango and Josh Rivera to Toronto for the hard-throwing reliever. That deal hasn’t aged especially well, especially with Piñango debuting this year and posting a 103 wRC+ with the Blue Jays. Pearson did show some of the upside Chicago was chasing, though, turning in a 2.73 ERA over 26 1/3 innings after the trade.
The follow-up in 2025 was much rougher. Pearson struggled badly, walking more hitters than he struck out and finishing with a 9.20 ERA in limited work. He spent most of that season in Iowa, where the numbers were better, before being released just before the playoffs.
This year with Houston, the 29-year-old has shown a few encouraging signs. He has done a better job keeping the ball in the park and has posted some of the best batted-ball numbers in the majors, including exit velocities and hard-hit rate. His fastball still plays up, too, with his four-seam averaging just under 98 MPH in 2026.
The warning signs are still obvious. Pearson’s walk total remains a problem, and he has not been missing bats the way a reliever with that kind of velocity should. That helps explain why he’s suddenly available even though Houston needs bullpen help.
But the Cubs need pitching just as badly, and they’ve shown they’re willing to keep betting on arms they know. With the playoff race this tight, Pearson looks like the kind of low-risk gamble Chicago could make before deciding how aggressive to get before the trade deadline. If that means moving on from Pomeranz to make room, so be it.
In Other News...
Former Cubs Prospect Is Forcing A Painful Busch Trade Revisit
Michael Busch has given the Cubs exactly what they hoped for when they made the January 2024 swap, settling in as one of the more productive first basemen in the game. Since the start of last season, he has ranked eighth among MLB first basemen in fWAR and 10th in wRC+, a reminder that Chicago did not just buy time at the position, it landed a legitimate middle-of-the-order piece.
The part that keeps the deal from feeling settled is what the Dodgers have gotten back on the other side. The prospect Chicago sent out in that trade is tearing through Double-A, piling up runs batted in and continuing to climb prospect lists while showing real improvement against left-handed pitching. If that progress holds, the Cubs may have to keep revisiting whether the Busch deal was a clean win, or one of those exchanges that looks better for both clubs every time the box scores roll in. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Have A Bullpen Problem And Matt Shaw Twist
The Cubs bullpen depth has taken a hit at a time when every arm matters, with Trent Thornton and Phil Maton both dealing with injuries that complicate the late-season picture. Thornton was hurt when a comebacker struck his heel, and Matons knee issue has pushed him out of the mix for the foreseeable future, leaving Chicago with less margin for error as the calendar tightens.
Matt Shaw adds another layer to the story because his wrist injury has kept him from being cleared to hit, and his status now folds into a bigger roster conversation. For a club trying to balance immediate pitching needs with longer-term value, Shaws name remains part of the trade discussion, which makes his recovery worth watching even as the Cubs sort out the bullpen mess. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Move May Have Opened A New Cubs Deadline Door
The Royals decision to scoop up Nate Pearson after Houston designated the right-hander for assignment may have done more than add another arm to their staff. It also gives Kansas City a little more flexibility if it decides to turn over part of its rotation, and that matters for a Cubs club still looking for pitching help as the deadline picture starts to sharpen.
Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo are the names to watch on that front, with both veteran starters sitting in the kind of range that could draw interest if the Royals choose to listen. For Chicago, that creates another possible path into the market, especially if Kansas City decides Pearson is enough insurance to make a move, but the real question is whether the Royals are actually ready to part with one of their experienced arms. [Read more 🡒]