The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired infielder Jacob Gonzalez and reliever Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox in a trade that included a 2026 draft pick, a move that is uncommon in Major League Baseball. ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported the details of the deal.
Unlike in the NBA, NFL, or NHL, where draft picks are frequently used as currency, MLB rarely sees selections change hands. Under current rules, only Competitive Balance selections, which are awarded to smaller-market or lower-revenue teams, are eligible to be traded. Standard draft picks remain non-transferable.
By trading the No. 34 overall pick in the 2026 draft, which falls within Competitive Balance Round A, the Pirates are prioritizing players who can contribute to the major league team more immediately rather than waiting for a prospect to develop. The White Sox, in turn, significantly increased their draft bonus pool, securing the largest available signing pool in baseball ahead of the upcoming MLB draft.
Gonzalez, 24, a shortstop, was originally selected 15th overall by the White Sox in the 2023 draft. After a breakout 2026 season at Triple-A Charlotte, where he hit .317 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs in 52 games, he earned a promotion to the majors. At the MLB level with Chicago, Gonzalez has batted .244 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 86 at-bats.
Eisert, 28, provides the Pirates with an additional left-handed arm for their bullpen. He debuted in the majors in 2024 after spending time in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization before joining the White Sox.
In exchange for Gonzalez and Eisert, the Pirates sent left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods to the White Sox. Woods, who has yet to make his MLB debut, has posted a 3.16 ERA in Double-A this season. The MLB draft is scheduled to begin Saturday at 1 p.m. in Philadelphia.