Pirates Trade Draft Pick, Pitching Prospect to White Sox for Gonzalez, Eisert
· Yahoo Sports
With only hours to go until the start of the MLB Draft, the Pirates have traded the 34th pick (Compensation Round A) and left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods to the Chicago White Sox for infielder Jacob Gonzales and left-handed relief pitcher Brandon Eisert.
Gonzalez made his MLB debut for the White Sox on May 31 and has appeared in 30 games. On the season, the 24-year-old owns a .244/.323/.360 batting line with four doubles, two home runs and 17 RBIs.
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A first-round pick of the White Sox in the 2023 draft out of Ole Miss, Gonzalez has a career .245/.327/.385 batting line with 67 doubles, four triples, 36 home runs, 197 RBIs and 43 stolen bases in 351 minor-league games across five levels. He slashed .317/.419/.668 with 11 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 62 RBIs and eight steals in 52 games with Triple-A Charlotte prior to his promotion to the big leagues.
Gonzalez served almost exclusively as the White Sox first baseman during his time in the big leagues, but primarily played shortstop as a minor-leaguer. He also has professional experience at both second and third base. Gonzalez was considered Chicago’s 22nd-best prospect at the time of the trade, according to MLB Pipeline.
“We believe in this team, and we discussed multiple ways to use the compensation pick to strengthen it,” said Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington. “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.”
Eisert is in his third big-league season and second with the White Sox. In 25 appearances/four starts this year, the 28-year-old is 2-1 with a 5.93 ERA, 32 strikeouts and eight walks in 27.1 innings. In 100 career appearances/seven starts between the White Sox and Blue Jays, the left-hander is 5-9 with a 4.77 ERA and a pair of saves.
“Brandon Eisert makes us even deeper in left-handed relief,” Cherington said.
The Pirates selcted Woods in the seventh round of the 2023 draft out of the University of Georgia. In parts of four minor league seasons in the organization, Woods went 12-11 with a 4.67 ERA and five saves in 121 appeances. The 24-year-old split this season between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis and combined to go 3-2 with a 4.84 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
By trading the 34th pick, the Pirates will subtract $2,897,400 from their bonus pool, which is now $16,233,300.
Pittsburgh will announce corresponding roster moves at a later time.
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