HOUSTON -- Right-hander Nate Pearson, a former first-round pick of the Blue Jays, was signed by the Astros to a one-year Major League contract on Tuesday, the team announced. Pearson signed for $1.35 million, according to a source.
Pearson, 29, split this season between Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs before being released on Sept. 21. He had a 2.22 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and 57 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings at Triple-A and posted a 9.20 ERA in 11 relief appearances with the Cubs. Standing 6-foot-6, Pearson averaged 97.6 mph with his fastball.
Pearson will come to Spring Training next season competing for a spot in Houston's rotation but could wind up working in relief. Houston's projected 2026 rotation options include Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Spencer Arrighetti, Colton Gordon, AJ Blubaugh and Jason Alexander. Left-hander Framber Valdez will become a free agent after the World Series.
Pearson has spent parts of five Major League seasons with the Blue Jays (2020-21, 2023-24) and the Cubs (2024-25), with a 5.17 ERA in 123 career games (six starts). He has 160 strikeouts in 156 2/3 big league innings. Pearson was taken No. 28 overall in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Blue Jays while Astros general manager Dana Brown was a special assistant to GM Ross Atkins in Toronto.