​With mere hours remaining before the MLB Draft begins, the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled off a significant swap, trading the 34th overall selection (Compensation Round A) along with left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert. This trade reshapes both teams’ immediate rosters and future plans, adding a versatile infield bat and a lefty relief option to Pittsburgh’s bullpen.
Jacob Gonzalez, who debuted for the White Sox on May 31, has appeared in 30 major league games this season. The 24-year-old journeyman is hitting .244 with a .323 on-base percentage and a .360 slugging percentage, tallying four doubles, two home runs, and 17 RBIs. Drafted by Chicago in the first round in 2023 out of Ole Miss, Gonzalez carries an overall minor-league line of .245/.327/.385 across five levels, including 67 doubles, four triples, 36 home runs, 197 RBIs, and 43 stolen bases in 351 games. He showed explosive production at Charlotte in 2023, delivering a .317/.419/.668 slash line with 11 doubles, one triple, 19 homers, 62 RBIs, and eight steals over 52 games before earning a promotion to the majors. In the majors, Gonzalez has been used largely as a first baseman, though his minor-league resume features extensive experience at shortstop, with additional time at second and third base in professional development. At the time of the trade, MLB Pipeline ranked Gonzalez as Chicago’s 22nd-best prospect, underscoring his potential as a multi-position defender and left-handed hitter.
“We believe in this team, and we discussed multiple ways to use the compensation pick to strengthen it,” Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington explained. “Jacob Gonzalez can complement Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo on the left side of the infield in Konnor Griffin’s absence. He’s also a versatile, left-handed hitter who has taken significant steps this season, and who we believe in long-term.” The Pirates are hopeful that Gonzalez’s development can provide infield depth and upside as they navigate a competitive window in the coming seasons.
Brandon Eisert, the other half of the deal for Chicago, is entering his third major league season and his second with the White Sox. In 2024, Eisert has appeared in 25 games, including four starts, and is credited with a 2-1 record and a 5.93 earned run average through 27.1 innings pitched, along with 32 strikeouts and eight walks. Across 100 major league appearances (including seven starts) with Chicago and Toronto, the left-hander owns a 5-9 record with a 4.77 ERA and two saves. Pirates executives noted that Eisert’s addition strengthens Pittsburgh’s left-handed relief depth, a key consideration as the bullpen continues to take shape for the season ahead.
On the other side of the deal, the Pirates sent Jaden Woods, their seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft out of the University of Georgia, to the White Sox. Woods spent parts of four minor league seasons with Pittsburgh, compiling a 12-11 record with a 4.67 ERA and five saves across 121 appearances. The 24-year-old split his 2024 campaign between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, finishing 3-2 with a 4.84 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. Woods’ blend of pitching potential and flexibility played a pivotal role in the Pirates’ decision to move him and the compensation pick in this substantial exchange.
From a financial perspective, trading the 34th overall pick will reduce Pittsburgh’s bonus pool by $2,897,400, leaving the Pirates with a remaining pool of $16,233,300 for the current draft. The club plans to announce corresponding roster moves in the near future as part of the broader reshaping associated with this trade.
In summary, the Pirates have swapped high-upside left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods and the 34th pick for infield versatility and left-handed relief in Jacob Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert. The move signals Pittsburgh’s intent to strengthen its left-side infield depth and bullpen flexibility while the White Sox gain a young, switch-hitting or left-handed-hitting infielder with defensive versatility and a trusted left-handed bullpen arm who could contribute at the major league level in the coming seasons. The baseball community will be watching closely as Gonzalez and Eisert integrate with their new organization and Woods pursues his development in Chicago’s system. This trade marks another significant chapter in the ongoing evolution of both franchises as they navigate competition within the league.
The story first appeared on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.