Trades in baseball are pretty common, especially during the summer months. But it’s not every day you see teams swap draft picks. On Friday, just before the MLB Draft, the Pirates and White Sox made a unique deal, reminiscent of what you often see in basketball, football, and hockey.
Pittsburgh picked up infielder Jacob Gonzalez and relief pitcher Brandon Isert from the White Sox, parting ways with left-handed pitching prospect Jaden Woods and the 34th overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Gonzalez and Isert will bolster Pittsburgh’s infield and bullpen, but the real highlight is the inclusion of a draft pick from Round A, which is part of a competitive balance system between the first and second rounds.
Now, unlike in the NBA or NFL, where trades often involve draft picks, MLB does things differently. Only certain selections, termed as competitively balanced, can be traded, typically awarded to smaller market teams. First- and second-round picks are off-limits due to MLB regulations, making such trades rather rare.
Pittsburgh essentially capitalized on one of the few tradeable draft assets, acquiring two players who can help right away instead of waiting for prospects to develop over time.
Gonzalez, a 24-year-old shortstop, was picked 15th overall by Chicago in the 2023 draft after a standout career at Ole Miss. After a rough start, he turned things around in the 2026 season at Triple-A Charlotte, boasting a .317 average with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs in just 52 games, which earned him a spot in the majors. At the big league level, he has a .244 batting average, with 2 home runs and 17 RBIs in 86 at-bats.
Isert adds another left-handed option to Pittsburgh’s bullpen. The 28-year-old is set to make his major league debut in 2024 after spending time in the Blue Jays organization before moving to the White Sox.
In taking the No. 34 overall pick, the White Sox have expanded their draft bonus pool, currently holding the largest contract pool in baseball as this weekend approaches. The deal also brought back Woods, another left-handed reliever who has performed well in Double-A this season, sporting a 3.16 ERA.
The draft kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m. in Philadelphia.
