The White Sox went absolutely wild, making a move that sent shockwaves through the league on Friday. Jacob Gonzalez got pulled from his Triple-A Charlotte game in the middle of a seven-run third inning, and within two hours, the news hit: Chicago traded him to the Pirates. This wasn't just some minor roster tweak, folks. This was a calculated, aggressive play.
Chicago's Big Bet On Thome
This wasn't just a simple swap. The White Sox sent Gonzalez to Pittsburgh along with lefty reliever Brandon Eisert. What did they get back? The 34th pick in Saturday’s draft , Pittsburgh’s Competitive Balance pick for 2026 , and Triple-A hurler Jaden Woods. The whispers are screaming that Chicago wants prep slugger Landon Thome, son of Hall-of-Famer Jim Thome, with that 34th pick. That slot value is $2,897,400, which tells you they're serious about getting Thome to skip Florida State and go pro. Thome’s not just some random name, either. Keith Law has him at 33 on his draft board for the Athletic, MLB Pipeline at 34, and he's the second-ranked player in Illinois. He's a shortstop with "prodigious future power," listed as a 2B/3B for the draft, just like his dad started out. He even made Baseball America’s All-America Second Team. Chicago is making a massive bet on this kid's potential.What Chicago Gave Up For That Pick
You don't make a move like this without giving something up, and Jacob Gonzalez was tearing it up at Triple-A Charlotte. We're talking a .317 average, .419 OBP, and a monstrous .669 slugging percentage. He blasted 19 homers, which was tied for fifth in all of Triple-A, even though he played 28 fewer games than the league leader! He was playing everywhere on the infield and forced his way to Chicago, even if his offense dipped a bit once he got to the majors. Still, his 93 OPS+ was almost league average, and he put up 0.4 WAR in just 30 games. That's basically an average big-leaguer's value right there. Then there’s Brandon Eisert. His rookie year in 2025 was solid, pitching to a 4.39 ERA and leading all Chicago pitchers with 72 appearances. But 2026? It's been rough. A 5.93 ERA over 25 games, getting yo-yoed between the big club and Charlotte. His departure from the active roster will necessitate a call-up from Charlotte, which they’re announcing tomorrow. On the flip side, Jaden Woods, the lefty coming back, got promoted to Triple-A in June with a 3.16 ERA over 17 games. He's taming his wildness, but Triple-A hitters are finding him more hittable, with his WHIP jumping to 1.655 over 10 games. He's only 24, so there's potential, but he probably won’t be a significant factor for Chicago this season. This whole deal is a huge gamble for the White Sox. They shipped out a hot prospect in Gonzalez and a veteran reliever for a draft pick and a reclamation project. All eyes are on that 34th pick now. Can they land Landon Thome and reshape their future? We'll find out tomorrow when that draft pick gets made. Big question is, will it pay off for Chicago's season?This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.