MLB Draft 2026 live updates: Start time, latest mock draft, predictions, news and analysis

Because the MLB Draft isn’t complicated enough, the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates threw a late wrinkle into today’s event with a late-night trade on Friday that sent the No. 34 pick in the draft from Pittsburgh to Chicago, along with minor-league left-hander Jaden Woods. In exchange, the Pirates received 2023 first-round pick Jacob Gonzalez, who appeared in 30 games for the White Sox while Munetaka Murakami was on the injured list.

For our draft purposes, this trade is interesting because it not only gives the White Sox an extra pick in the Competitive Balance Round A portion of the draft, but it also bumps their bonus pool to the top of the heap. They now have $20,489,500 to play with, as well as five total picks on Day 1 of the draft.

The White Sox, of course, have the first pick, and they will control how the top of the draft unfolds when they decide who to take at No. 1, a choice that is most likely between Grady Emerson, Roch Cholowsky and Vahn Lackey. But with that extra pick and that extra money, could they be targeting a high-upside high school player at 34? Might Landon Thome, son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome (and a beloved former Sox slugger), be their focus?

Also, fun fact, but the Pirates almost had all the Jacob Gonzalezes in their organization. The 2017 second-round pick version of Jacob Gonzalez (who is also the son of World Series hero Luis Gonzalez) played in the Pirates organization in 2022 and 2023 but retired after the 2023 season. — Melissa Lockard”