Pirates Catcher Issues Are Back With Roster Announcement

The Pirates had three other catchers this season, but all two are no longer with the team and another is out for the season injured.

Joey Bart started with the Pirates in 2026, but suffered a left foot infection in mid-May, and the Pirates traded him to the Atlanta Braves on June 18 when he returned healthy, instead of DFA'ing him.

Endy Rodríguez emerged as the Pirates' best-hitting catcher and perhaps the solution for their long-term woes at the position, but he underwent surgery to repair his left hip labrum, ending his 2026 campaign.

Rodríguez, who hit .267/.373/.467 for an OPS of .840 in 45 games, will now take about seven to nine months to fully return to baseball activities, marking a March-to-May return timeline.

The Pirates also had Shawn Ross in their farm system for many years and called him up in late July, but DFA'd him and the New York Mets claimed him.

Where do the Pirates Go at Catcher?

The Pirates will most likely address their catcher depth issues during the offseason, figuring out who they see as the future of the position.

Davis has been fantastic behind the plate but has struggled with the bat, hitting .177/.263/.294 for an OPS of .557 in almost 300 games at the major league level.

Flores has shown the power the Pirates desired when they traded David Bednar for him, but whether he's best suited at catcher or first base defensively is still unknown.

The Pirates, if either get injured this season, have a few catchers that could add to the 40-man roster, including Jose Herrera , Derek Berg and Cameron Barstad.

Pittsburgh would rather not have to rely on this trio, as Berg and Barstad haven't made their MLB debut and Herrera is currently on the development list and just signed to Indianapolis this week.