Pirates acquire Jacob Gonzalez, Brandon Eisert for…
You see trades in baseball all the time.
And particularly in the summer season, it’s commerce season, after all.
But you not often see a draft decide dealt in the best way you do in basketball, soccer and hockey, but the Pirates and White Sox mixed to make a pretty uncommon commerce on Friday — at some point before the MLB draft.
Jacob Gonzalez bats during the White Sox’s win over the Orioles on June 30, 2026 at Camden Yards. Getty Images
Pittsburgh acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez and reliever Brandon Eisert from the White Sox in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods and the No. 34 general decide in the 2026 draft, ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported.
While Gonzalez and Eisert strengthen Pittsburgh’s infield and bullpen depth, the most important storyline may be the inclusion of a draft decide, which is from the Competitive Balance Round A between Rounds 1 and 2.
Unlike the NBA and NFL, where draft picks are routinely exchanged as commerce currency, MLB not often sees choices change arms.
The only picks that might be traded are Competitive Balance choices, that are awarded to sure small-market and lower-revenue golf equipment.
Standard first-round, second-round and later choices stay non-transferable under MLB guidelines, making offers like this unusual.
So, Pittsburgh primarily used one of the game’s few tradable draft property to acquire two gamers who can help more immediately, somewhat than ready years for a prospect to develop.
Jaden Woods pitches during the sport between the Altoona Curve and the Harrisburg Senators at FNB Field on April 21, 2026 in Harrisburg, Pa. Minor League Baseball via Getty
The Pirates already have one of the best farm systems in baseball.
Gonzalez, a 24-year-old shortstop, was chosen fifteenth general by Chicago in the 2023 draft after starring at Ole Miss.
After an uneven start to his skilled profession, Gonzalez has loved a breakout 2026 marketing campaign at Triple-A Charlotte, batting .317 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs in just 52 video games before incomes a promotion to the majors.
With the White Sox at the MLB degree, he’s hitting .244 across 86 at-bats with two homers and 17 RBIs.
Eisert provides Pittsburgh another left-handed bullpen arm. The 28-year-old debuted in the majors in 2024 after spending a number of seasons in the Blue Jays’ group before becoming a member of the White Sox.
By buying the No. 34 general choice, the White Sox considerably elevated their draft bonus pool, giving them the most important signing pool in baseball getting into this weekend.
The commerce also introduced back Woods, a left-handed aid prospect who has yet to debut in the majors but has been productive in Double-A with a 3.16 ERA this season.
The draft begins Saturday at 1 p.m. in Philadelphia.
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