The MLB trade deadline is on August 3, but the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros are getting a head start.
On Wednesday, the Astros and Royals agreed to a trade that will send relief pitcher Nate Pearson to Kansas City, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
The Astros are trading reliever Nate Pearson to the Kansas City Royals, sources tell @TheAthletic
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 22, 2026
The Astros recently DFA’d Pearson, and days later, they wind up sending him to the Royals. In exchange, the Astros are acquiring High-A pitcher Max Martin, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com.
Pearson was selected at No. 28 overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft. He spent the first four seasons of his career with Toronto before going to the Chicago Cubs in 2024.
Pearson played for the Cubs in 2025 before joining the Astros in 2026. He appeared in 16 games for Houston, registering an 0-1 record with a 3.60 ERA in 20 innings pitched.
The Astros entered Wednesday with a 49-54 record, which means they are expected to be sellers at the deadline. There is a scenario where Houston moves slugger Yordan Alvarez, although it would need to be a large return to send away the All-Star.
The Royals, meanwhile, are 42-60 and have one of the worst records in all of baseball, so this just feels like a depth addition for Kansas City as they look ahead to the future.
