Athletics acquire – The Athletics completed a depth-focused trade Saturday, acquiring infielder Alika Williams from the Pirates for minor league right-hander Kyle Robinson after Jacob Wilson was placed on the injured list, while also designating Michael Stefanic for assignment. P
Saturday’s transactions in MLB centered on roster depth and timing, with the Athletics and Pirates agreeing to a trade that reshaped both teams’ infield options.
The A’s acquired infielder Alika Williams from Pittsburgh in exchange for minor league right-hander Kyle Robinson.. The move landed days after the Athletics placed All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson on the injured list. a change that left Darell Hernaiz as the team’s only natural shortstop on the major league depth chart.
Williams, 27, was added immediately to the Athletics’ active roster after beginning the 2026 season with Triple-A Indianapolis.. In 34 games there, he hit .317 with an .852 OPS, including two home runs, 10 doubles and 18 RBIs.. Over 135 plate appearances, his on-base percentage sat at .385 while his slugging percentage was .467.. The production offered the club a clear reason to bring him up quickly.
Pittsburgh’s decision to move Williams came despite that Triple-A stretch. The Pirates faced limited opportunities in their infield mix, with Konnor Griffin and Brandon Lowe handling middle infield duties, and Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo also factoring into playing time.
Williams’ track record includes major league experience with the Pirates.. Originally selected 37th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 MLB Draft. he joined Pittsburgh in the June 2023 trade that sent Robert Stephenson to Tampa Bay.. Williams made his MLB debut later that season and played 83 games for Pittsburgh across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.. In 188 at-bats at the major league level, he hit .202 with nine doubles, two triples, 11 RBIs and a .528 OPS.
Defensively, the draft-day focus remained a major part of his profile. Williams earned praise for his range, arm strength, quick first step and overall shortstop defense coming out of the draft.
For the Pirates. the return was Robinson. a 22-year-old right-hander selected by the Athletics in the 11th round of the 2024 draft out of Texas Tech.. Robinson owns a 7-13 record and a 4.52 ERA in 34 professional appearances, including 27 starts, across the A’s farm system.. This season at High-A Lansing, he posted a 3.62 ERA over 27.1 innings with a 1.35 WHIP and a .240 batting average against.. His four-pitch package is listed as a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup.
To create roster space for Williams, the Athletics designated infielder Michael Stefanic for assignment after just two games with the club.
The day didn’t stop there. The Athletics also completed another minor trade Saturday, sending outfielder Junior Perez to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Jackson Nove, who owns a 1.96 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 23 innings at Single-A Kannapolis this season.
The timing stitched the moves together: Wilson’s injured list placement left the A’s short on natural shortstop options, Hernaiz became their only one on the major league depth chart, and the club then added Williams to the active roster while freeing a spot by designating Stefanic for assignment.
MLB Athletics Pirates Alika Williams Kyle Robinson Jacob Wilson Darell Hernaiz Michael Stefanic Junior Perez Jackson Nove