The White Sox traded Eisert and Jacob Gonzalez to the Pirates on Friday in exchange for minor-league reliever Jaden Woods and the 34th pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Eisert has struggled to find his footing in the big leagues this season, logging a 5.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 27.1 innings with the White Sox. Unless a change of scenery sparks a significant turnaround, the 28-year-old southpaw is likely to remain in a middle-relief role with the Pirates.
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Pirates' Jacob Gonzalez: Traded to Pirates
Rotowire
The White Sox traded Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert to the Pirates on Friday in exchange for minor-league reliever Jaden Woods and the 34th pick in the 2026 First-Year Player Draft, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After sending him down to Triple-A earlier in the day, the White Sox will now send Gonzalez out to Pittsburgh to help bolster the Pirates' infield depth. The 24-year-old has slashed .244/.323/.360 across 97 plate appearances in the majors since making his MLB debut May 31, but he boasts a 1.040 OPS at the Triple-A level. With Konnor Griffin (finger) expected to miss multiple months and Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) also on the IL, Gonzalez could get an opportunity to contribute right away for the big club.
Ashcraft and the Pirates won't face the Brewers on Friday, as the game was postponed due to rain.
The Pirates and Brewers will play a doubleheader Saturday to make up Friday's contest, and Ashcraft will toe the slab during the earlier game, per Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com. The 26-year-old righty has collected a win in each of his last four starts while posting a 3.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 32:6 K:BB across 23.2 innings.
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Pirates' Hunter Stratton: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Stratton to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
The Pirates are in need of bullpen reinforcements, and Stratton had pitched two of the past three days. Thomas Harrington and Antwone Kelly are being called up to supplement the club's relief corps.
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Pirates' Cam Sanders: Demoted to Indianapolis
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Sanders was touched up for three runs on two hits and three walks while recording just two outs in Thursday's loss to Atlanta. He threw 39 pitches in the appearance, so the Pirates are replacing him with a fresh bullpen arm.
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Pirates' Thomas Harrington: Promoted to big leagues
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The Pirates will recalled Harrington from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Harrington has had a rough season at Indianapolis, posting a 6.52 ERA and 56:26 K:BB across 58 frames. He's been used as a multi-inning reliever over the past several weeks, so Harrington will give the Pittsburgh bullpen some length.
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Pirates' Antwone Kelly: Coming up from Triple-A
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The Pirates recalled Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis Friday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Kelly made his major-league debut earlier this season for Pittsburgh, allowing two runs over 2.1 innings in his lone appearance. The 22-year-old has logged a 4.85 ERA and 54:33 K:BB over 68.2 frames at Indianapolis in 2026. Kelly is presumably up to provide the bullpen with some length.
Pirates' Rafael Flores: Collects hit in return to majors
Rotowire
Flores went 1-for-4 on Thursday against Atlanta.
He was recalled Wednesday with Endy Rodriguez (lower body) on the injured list. Thursday marked Flores' third big-league game of the season and his second start, though he could have the chance to play a relatively even split with Henry Davis so long as Rodriguez is sidelined.
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Pirates' Bryan Reynolds: Tallies 14th homer
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Reynolds went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk Thursday against Atlanta.
Reynolds went back-to-back with Esmerlyn Valdez in the third inning to tally his 14th home run of the season. Reynolds has hit particularly well early in July, with this being his third long ball in eight contests, going 9-for-33 with seven runs scored, five RBI and two stolen bases. He now has a .196 ISO across 410 plate appearances, in line with his marks from 2022 and 2023, which are some of the more productive seasons of his career.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Pops seventh homer
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Valdez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk Thursday against Atlanta.
Valdez took Bryce Elder deep in the third inning for his seventh home run of the season. Though his power production has fallen since he homered in four straight games to end June, he has still looked plenty capable of handling big-league pitching. In Valdez's last nine games, he's gone 11-for-37 with one homer, six RBI and six runs scored. He's also started 10 straight contests.
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Pirates' Jake Mangum: Fills stat sheet in loss
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Mangum went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double, an additional RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's 10-5 loss to Atlanta.
It's the fourth career four-hit game for Mangum, highlighted by his two-run blast off Bryce Elder in the fourth inning, his second homer this season. The switch-hitting outfielder has gone 18-for-50 (.360) over his last 12 games, boosting his slash line to .311/.361/.383 across 244 plate appearances this season with 32 runs scored, 18 RBI and 18 stolen bases.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Falls to Atlanta
Rotowire
Keller (6-7) took the loss Thursday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over three innings. He struck out three.
Keller has been struggling mightily of late, posting a 7.62 ERA in his last eight starts (39 innings). The home-run ball in particular has been a problem for Keller -- he's now given up six long balls in his last four outings. The right-hander will head into the All-Star break with a 5.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 77:35 K:BB across 19 starts (103.1 innings).
Pirates' Jared Triolo: Filling in for Griffin at shortstop
Rotowire
Triolo will make his third straight start at shortstop in Thursday's game against Atlanta.
Triolo briefly transitioned back into a utility role in late June when Konnor Griffin settled back in as the Pirates' top shortstop after a one-month absence due to a forearm flexor strain, but a regular spot in the middle infield has reopened for Triolo after Griffin was moved back to the IL on Tuesday due to a torn tendon in his left ring finger. Griffin faces an estimated recovery timeline of 8-to-10 weeks, so unless the Pirates bring another shortstop aboard prior to the Aug. 3 trade deadline, Triolo should be in line for an extended run as an everyday player. Though Triolo is regarded as a strong defender, he's offered limited fantasy value this season with a .236 average, one home run, six steals, 14 RBI and 19 runs across 198 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Henry Davis: Receiving afternoon off
Rotowire
Davis is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta.
Though he looks like the Pirates' new No. 1 catcher after Endy Rodriguez (glute) was placed on the injured list Wednesday, Davis will get a breather Thursday while Pittsburgh closes out its series against Atlanta with a day game after a night game. Rafael Flores will step in behind the dish and will bat eighth.
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