Draft Pick Roster Shuffle
Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Competitive Balance Pick for Infield Depth, Bullpen Arm
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Key Points
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White Sox draft strategy shift around compensation picks: With the No. 34 selection, Chicago could target a high-upside player and potentially sign that top pick for less than the slot value, using the savings to persuade a high school star to skip college. Scouting director Mike Shirley noted there is a high school pitcher he loves, suggesting the team may pursue a splash pick rather than a conventional choice at 34.
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Pirates GM Ben Cherington framed the compensation pick as a tool to strengthen the club, saying they discussed multiple ways to use it and that the move addresses both infield depth with Konnor Griffin out and bullpen needs.
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Jacob Gonzalez arrives with notable pedigree and strong Triple-A production: a former first-round pick (No. 15 in 2023) who Baseball America and MLB Pipeline ranked as a top prospect, he hit .320 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in 52 Triple-A Charlotte games, illustrating an offensive upside and power potential while also offering infield versatility.
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Brandon Eisert provides bullpen depth with perceptible swing-and-miss upside; he has 32 strikeouts in 25 games this season and could be used as an opener to bridge to right-handed starter Mitch Keller, adding a flexible weapon for Pittsburgh's pitching staff.
The Pittsburgh Pirates landed infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, sending their No. 34 overall pick and minor-league pitcher Jaden Woods to Chicago in return, according to WPXI and The New York Times. The deal fills two immediate holes for Pittsburgh — shortstop depth while Konnor Griffin recovers from a finger injury, and bullpen reinforcement — while handing Chicago a premium draft asset.
Gonzalez, 24, is a former first-round pick (No. 15 in 2023) who brings a left-handed bat and infield versatility. Eisert, 28, adds a strikeout arm to Pittsburgh's bullpen. The No. 34 pick is a Competitive Balance A selection — a rare, high-value draft slot that Chicago plans to use creatively in the 2026 draft, Daily Herald reported.
Gonzalez Brings Power and Versatility to Pittsburgh's Infield
Gonzalez tore through Triple-A this season before his call-up. He hit .320 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in just 52 games for Charlotte, per Yahoo Sports. Those numbers put him among the White Sox's most productive minor leaguers. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline both ranked him as a top prospect.
His big-league line is more modest — .244/.323/.360 in 30 games — but Pittsburgh sees upside. He can play shortstop and first base. With Griffin sidelined, that flexibility matters right away. Pirates GM Ben Cherington said the club looked at multiple ways to use the No. 34 pick and decided this move addressed both infield depth and bullpen needs at once.
Eisert Gives Pittsburgh a Swing-and-Miss Left-Hander
Eisert's ERA sits at 5.93 over 27.1 innings this year. That number is not pretty, but his strikeout rate tells a different story. He has racked up 32 strikeouts in 25 appearances, The New York Times noted. Pittsburgh could use him as an opener to bridge to right-handed starter Mitch Keller.
The Pirates view Eisert as a reclamation project — a lefty with elite stuff who needs better command. If he can limit walks, he becomes a genuine weapon out of the bullpen. Pittsburgh's late-summer push gives him a chance to prove himself under real playoff pressure.
White Sox Use No. 34 Pick to Reshape Their Draft Strategy
Chicago is treating the No. 34 pick as more than just a draft slot. White Sox scouting director Mike Shirley said there is a high school pitcher he loves. The plan, per Daily Herald, is to sign that top pick for less than the slot value, then use the savings to lure a high school star away from a college commitment.
The No. 34 pick sits in a record-setting draft bonus pool year. That makes it especially valuable. Chicago is rebuilding from the ground up, and stacking high-upside prep talent fits that plan. Woods, the pitching prospect heading to Chicago, adds another arm to the system as the White Sox reload for the future.
Pirates Balance Win-Now Moves With Organizational Depth
Pittsburgh is making a late-summer push, and this trade reflects that urgency. Griffin's finger injury left a real gap at shortstop. Cherington moved fast to fix it. Trading a draft pick is a cost — the No. 34 slot has real value — but the Pirates chose present talent over future potential, WPXI reported.
Woods had logged a lighter workload recently, making him a logical piece to move. His departure thins Pittsburgh's pitching depth slightly, but Gonzalez and Eisert address needs the club felt right now. For Chicago, the swap adds draft capital and a utility infielder with a first-round pedigree — a low-risk addition while the rebuild plays out.
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