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Joey Bart Drawing Trade Interest

By Nick Deeds | July 31, 2025 at 8:55am CDT

Pirates catcher Joey Bart is drawing some trade interest, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hiles adds that teams interested in Bart (including at least one AL club) are valuing him as a potential bench bat to hit left-handed pitching, rather than as a starting catcher.

That’s understandable, given the season Bart has had. The 28-year-old has appeared in 64 games for Pittsburgh this season with a .244/.343/.302 (87 wRC+) slash line in 236 plate appearances. He’s combined that with below average defense across the board behind the plate and especially weak framing numbers. With that said, Bart has raked against southpaws with a .333/.424/.451 (150 wRC+) line against them in 59 plate appearances this year. Bart performing well against lefties is also consistent with his career, as his career 106 wRC+ against southpaws is 21 points higher than his mark against right-handers.

That ability to crush left-handed pitching would make Bart a strong bench option for a team that struggles against lefties like the Royals (76 wRC+), Rangers (77 wRC+), or Reds (77 wRC+). The Reds and Rangers already have a lefty-mashing backup catcher in Jose Trevino and Kyle Higashioka respectively, but the Royals would be a particularly interesting fit as Bart represents a clear upgrade over Luke Maile and could pair with Freddy Fermin in future seasons behind the plate if this is franchise stalwart Salvador Perez’s final year in Kansas City. The Royals have a middling 54-55 record but are just three games out of a Wild Card spot and have already acquired Randal Grichuk and Adam Frazier this summer. Bart is controlled through the 2027 season, so he could be a sensible addition for teams that aren’t squarely all-in on 2025.

Bart may not fit other teams quite as perfectly as he does the Royals, but there are still some other interesting fits. The Padres are known to be in desperate need of catching help and Bart would be an offensive upgrade over either Elias Diaz or Martin Maldonado. The Rays and Mets could be other solid fits, although Tampa’s recent acquisitions of Nick Fortes and Hunter Fedducia seemingly leave them well-stocked in terms of catching talent while the Mets might be reluctant to part with the top-shelf defense backup catcher Luis Torrens is providing behind the plate.

The Pirates face an interesting dilemma regarding Bart. The 28-year-old’s 2024 season looked at the time to be a breakout performance as he slashed an excellent .265/.337/.462 (121 wRC+) with 13 homers in just 80 games, and there surely would’ve been clubs intrigued by Bart as a potential starting catcher last winter after that performance. That could make holding onto him in hopes he bounces back offensively to raise his value a worthwhile course of action, particularly given his remaining team control. On the other hand, 2024 is the only time across parts of six seasons in the majors where Bart has looked like an above-average offensive player, and with both Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez looking for an opportunity to develop behind the plate next year perhaps the Pirates should get something for Bart now if they can and more fully devote the catcher position to their former top prospects next year.

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Pittsburgh Pirates Joey Bart

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42 Comments

  1. gstill54

    20 hours ago

    Without looking at any of his numbers, I can confidently say he would be an upgrade to Connor Wing in Boston.

    1
    Reply
    • Rsox

      19 hours ago

      Wong is 3 for 7 with 2 doubles in his last two starts so hopefully that’s a sign he’s coming out of his season long rut. The Sox already cycled trough one ex-Giants Catcher this season, they don’t need another one

      Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      16 hours ago

      The Connor Wing of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is a fine place for an afternoon nap

      Reply
      • Rsox

        15 hours ago

        Nice and quiet in there

        Reply
    • TellItGoodbye

      14 hours ago

      Without looking at his numbers I can confidently say that Joey is a massive headcase. There’s a reason SF dumped him for nothing.

      Reply
  2. Mike Adamson

    20 hours ago

    I’d keep Bart just because his value is low and the return won’t be much.

    4
    Reply
    • jtkuch

      20 hours ago

      I’d trade him just to clear playing time for Davis. Let him sink or swim the rest of this year and determine if you need to address C this offseason

      6
      Reply
      • TheMan 3

        20 hours ago

        who backs up Davis if Bart is traded.
        Henry certainly can’t play every game

        2
        Reply
        • Mike Adamson

          19 hours ago

          It just makes no sense to trade low on Bart without another C coming in.

          1
          Reply
        • jtkuch

          19 hours ago

          Who cares? Anybody. These last 2 months don’t matter anyway

          Reply
        • Robert J. Wratcher

          19 hours ago

          Depends on the return. Stallings is out there. Could get him to finish out the year, then look in the off-season.

          Reply
        • TheMan 3

          18 hours ago

          not just anyone can catch pitches thrown 100+ mph or throw out runners in a squatting position.
          SMH at the sheer ignorance of people who post here

          Reply
        • Robertowannabe1

          18 hours ago

          Sullivan till Gutierrez comes off the 60 day in a couple of weeks.

          Reply
        • joew

          18 hours ago

          Endy maybe back in 2026, until then they can put anyone back there.

          Duno if Endy will stick but Davis may not either and Bart really isn’t lighting it up in anyway so even if Endy doesn’t stick they’re not losing much.

          Reply
      • Mike Adamson

        20 hours ago

        Yea I have no faith in Henry Davis and he’s 25 now. I’ve at least seen some potential in Bart at 28. Worst case scenario is you play Bart in a platoon and just let him play against lefties! Find someone who can hit righties!

        1
        Reply
        • jtkuch

          19 hours ago

          I’m not giving up on a #1 overall pick that easily, sorry. When he was drafted he was seen as offense first defense second. Now he’s figured out the defense. I have to believe the bat is still in there somewhere, there’s no reason not to give him playing time to see if he can find it. Spencer Torkelson also struggled offensively at first too.

          Reply
        • Mike Adamson

          19 hours ago

          Only the Pirates would’ve made him first overall! I’m not giving up on him because I don’t think he will figure it out. I’m saying you shouldn’t trade Bart when he has no value!

          Reply
        • jtkuch

          18 hours ago

          If he’s drawing interest he has some value, and considering we got him for nothing I’m fine with it. He’s bad defensively and has lost his power, his only good asset. Trade him for what you can.

          Reply
        • TheRickSays

          17 hours ago

          This is dumb, he’s still young, and he’s absolutely destroyed AAA pitching which means that there is some kind of disconnect in the Pirate’s major league staff. The tools are there, we need an overhaul on the hitting side of the coaching staff.

          Reply
  3. wvsteve

    20 hours ago

    If true the pirates better add ML ready talent

    Reply
    • ronnsnow

      20 hours ago

      You think a backup catcher is gonna fetch a major league talent? They’ll either get a 19 yr old pitcher or a 28 yr old AAA infielder.

      8
      Reply
      • wvsteve

        18 hours ago

        Then don’t trade him

        1
        Reply
        • ronnsnow

          17 hours ago

          Whats the point in keeping him though? He’s not a very good defender and last year looks like a fluke offensively. 2026 needs to be devoted to Davis and Rodriguez to see if theres anything there with either of them. Bart is expendable.

          1
          Reply
      • joew

        17 hours ago

        or a MLB pen arm with some sort of control.

        Hes a backup/platoon catcher that you no one would have a real problem putting out everyday if there is an issue with the primary catcher.

        He isn’t going to fill the farm but getting some one decent at a lower demand position like middle relief isn’t that far out of scope. All depends on how motivated they are to make a trade.

        Reply
  4. Julius

    20 hours ago

    Remember when the Pirates had two top prospects at C (Henry and Rodríguez). Now the position org wide is a sink hole of suck and Bart is the least barf-inducing of their options (but still like a mild dry heave). I guess I’d keep him since what of value are they going to get back?

    3
    Reply
    • joew

      17 hours ago

      yeah they had no catchers in the pipeline, then had a crap ton and now just some cross your fingers catchers.

      1
      Reply
  5. bucsfan0004

    20 hours ago

    They got him off waivers and he was great last year. This year… not so much. Trade him. Davis is kind of awful but i’m starting to like his defense

    4
    Reply
    • TheMan 3

      20 hours ago

      Davis has been an effective catcher with a strong and pin point arm
      Offensively he stinks

      1
      Reply
      • joew

        17 hours ago

        its funny, the big rub against Davis’s value was his poor defense and that his bat would carry him.

        Me saying he was improving through his short development time drew laughs.

        Reply
  6. DanUgglasRing

    19 hours ago

    Giants have an opportunity to do the funniest thing ever

    2
    Reply
    • Brett Baty’s Bat

      19 hours ago

      Funnier than the Mariners winning the Eugenio sweepstakes vs former teams Cincinnati and Detroit?

      1
      Reply
      • DanUgglasRing

        18 hours ago

        It’s only funnier because geno is so much better than Bart but the geno trade is for sure the funniest so far

        Reply
  7. Dice 66

    19 hours ago

    Anybody noticed 0 hitters? I thought they have talked about it for weeks?

    1
    Reply
    • TheMan 3

      18 hours ago

      Cherington got taken on the Hayes trade so I don’t expect him to obtain any players better than what they already have

      Reply
  8. holecamels35

    19 hours ago

    A lot of people in Pittsburgh seem to have tossed Bart aside for Davis for reasons I don’t know? Davis has become a very good defensive catcher, he has power “potential”, and while I root on him to succeed, his bat just hasn’t come around.
    Bart has clear on base skills and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with keeping both of them. Especially if Cutch isn’t around next season. Catchers are so iffy from year to year, never know what to expect. Unless he’s part of a bigger deal which fills a need on the MLB roster, just keep him.

    2
    Reply
  9. Dbaseball 2

    19 hours ago

    This team has not had a legitimate catcher since Russell Martin and I liked Cervelli a lot but they need another Russ period.

    1
    Reply
    • TheMan 3

      18 hours ago

      this offense needs so many things it’s difficult to list them all in one paragraph

      1
      Reply
  10. Buuba ho tep

    18 hours ago

    Sayanora

    Reply
  11. extreme113

    16 hours ago

    Davis was a money saver draft and not worthy of the first pick in the draft and now he’s playing to his ability – a backup.

    1
    Reply
  12. Dumpster Divin Theo

    16 hours ago

    Frisco hasn’t been quite the same without Bart. Tolls and parking too high in San Fran. Better off just chillin in Oaktown w me homies

    Reply
    • bucsfan0004

      29 mins ago

      No need for Bart when you have Waymo

      Reply
  13. AC Surf Baseball

    13 hours ago

    Aren’t the Red Sox looking for catching as well? They have 4 lefties in their Pen wouldn’t be surprised to see them move one here in the next hour.

    Reply

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