​The Pittsburgh Pirates pulled off a trade Friday night that brought in infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed pitcher Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jaden Woods and a 2026 draft selection. As part of the deal, Pittsburgh sent the White Sox the Pirates’ Competitive Balance A round pick, which corresponds to the No. 34 overall selection in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington spoke about the move, saying the organization evaluated multiple ways to deploy the compensation pick to bolster the roster because of a firm belief in the current club. “We believe in this team, and we discussed multiple ways to use the compensation pick to strengthen it,” Cherington said. “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.”
Gonzalez, 24, was selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft by Chicago, as the 15th overall pick, out of the University of Mississippi. In his initial major league stint with the White Sox, he posted a .244 batting average with four doubles, two home runs, 17 RBIs, eight walks, and 11 runs scored over 30 games. While at Triple-A Charlotte this season, Gonzalez hit .320 with 12 doubles, 19 home runs, 63 RBIs, 33 walks, eight stolen bases, and an impressive 1.097 OPS over 53 games, collecting 43 runs along the way. At the time of the trade, he ranked second in the International League in RBIs and tied for fifth in home runs. Baseball America pegged him as the White Sox’s No. 16 prospect, while MLB Pipeline placed him at No. 22, both placing him in the top-25 within Chicago’s farm system. Cherington highlighted Gonzalez’s potential fit on the Pirates’ infield, noting that his left-handed bat and versatility could help when Griffin is out of the lineup.
In addition to Gonzalez, the Pirates acquired Eisert, a left-handed reliever who adds depth to the bullpen. Cherington noted that Eisert strengthens Pittsburgh’s left-handed relief corps. Eisert, 28, has appeared in more than 25 games this season with Chicago, where he has a two-win and one-loss record, a 5.93 ERA, and 32 strikeouts across those appearances, which include four starts. He was originally drafted by Toronto in the 18th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft after playing college baseball at Oregon State University. This year with the White Sox, Eisert ranked sixth among AL left-handed relievers in appearances with 69 and was eighth in strikeouts with 73. Eisert’s major league résumé also includes a combined five-nine record with two saves, a 4.77 ERA, and 108 strikeouts across more than 100 games, including seven starts, with Toronto in 2024 and Chicago in 2025-26.
The Pirates have indicated that corresponding moves to add these players to Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster will be announced at a later date, with further details to come as club officials finalize roster changes. Meanwhile, fans can stay updated via WPXI News for breaking coverage and insights on how Gonzalez and Eisert may fit into the Pirates’ pitching staff and infield mix moving forward.