Pirates Agree to Deal With Joey Bart, Avoid Arbitration

Fellow catcher Henry Davis and Bart split up catching duties for the Pirates in 2025, with Davis serving as Skenes' personal catcher for most of the season, following an early injury to Endy Rodríguez.

Bart missed time with injury this season, suffering a concussion vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 27 at Chase Field.

The Pirates then placed Bart on the seven-day concussion list on May 28. Bart received clearance from the MLB and the Players Association, allowing him to come back and start his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on June 11 and eventually return to the Pirates on June 17.

Bart also suffered an injury vs. the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 11, leaving during the second inning with lower back discomfort. He eventually returned to catcher on April 17 vs. the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.

He slashed .265/.337/.462 for an OPS of .799 in 80 games for the Pirates in 2024, after they landed him in a trade with the San Francisco Giants at the beginning of the season.

Expect both Bart and Davis to serve as catchers for the Pirates next season, as the franchise wants much better from them both hitting and behind the plate.

Pirates Arbitration Decisions This Offseason

Jan. 9 serves as the deadline for MLB teams and players to exchange salary desires in arbitration, otherwise, they will go to the panel to decide who wins their appeal.

The Pirates already avoided arbitration with two players prior in November, as they signed outfielderJack Suwinski to a one-year, $1.25 million deal and also right-handed relief pitcher Yohan Ramírez on a one-year, $825,000 deal.

Pittsburgh has also reportedly avoided arbitration with the remaining four players on Jan. 9 in right-handed pitchers Dennis Santana, for a one-year, $3.5 million deal, and Justin Lawrence, on a one-year, $1.225 million deal, plus center fielder Oneil Cruz on a one-year, $3.3 million deal.

The Pirates non-tendered the likes of right-handed relief pitchers in Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta, which made them free agents, as they designated them for assignment to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft.

They also traded right-handed starting pitcher Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox for top 100 prospect in outfielder Jhostynxon García on Dec. 4, as a part of a five-team trade between both ballclubs.