Could Joey Bart Become Pirates’ Long-Term Answer At Catcher?
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The Pittsburgh Pirates’ catching situation didn’t go exactly to plan entering this year.
Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis were expected to battle for the starting job behind the plate. However, Rodriguez injured his elbow during winter ball, and had to undergo surgery.
In February, the Pirates brought in veteran backstop Yasmani Grandal, on a one-year deal, to compete with Davis.
Early on in spring training, Grandal dealt with plantar fasciitis, which caused him to miss the rest of spring. This meant that Davis would begin 2024 as the Pirates starting catcher.
Looking to add more catching depth, GM Ben Cherington acquired Joey Bart from the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for pitcher Austin Strickland.
Once regarded as the top catching prospect in all of baseball, Bart struggled offensively with the Giants, and things just weren’t clicking for him. Given Bart’s former prospect pedigree, as well as the Pirates needing more depth at the position, a change of scenery appeared ideal.
The result was Bart becoming arguably Pittsburgh’s most surprising hitter. In 282 plate appearances, he slashed .265/.337/.462, while posting an OPS+ of 120. Overall, Bart was a two-win player (2.2 WAR).
During the second half of the season, manager Derek Shelton had been penciling in Bart as the regular backstop, and using Grandal mostly as a personal catcher for Paul Skenes.
As Bart projects to open the 2025 season as the team’s starting catcher, is he the long-term solution?
Bart enters this offseason being arbitration eligible for the first time. $1.8 million is the projected figure put out by MLB Trade Rumors. Based on Bart’s offensive value alone this year, that money would be a real bargain.
Honestly, you wonder how committed the Pirates are with Henry Davis as a catcher. He handled the role fine, when given a chance, but it’s not being able to hit big league pitching that’s been haunting the former #1 overall pick. Endy Rodriguez should return next year fully healthy. Although Rodriguez would be Pittsburgh’s best choice defensively, he, like Davis, has to show he’s capable of hitting at the MLB level. Unless Bart regresses with the bat, and/or the other two break through offensively, then there’s no reason why the Pirates should move off Bart as the club’s #1 catcher.