Pirates Face Decision on Arbitration-Eligible Catcher

Pirates Face Decision on Arbitration-Eligible Joey Bart

On April 2, 2024, the Pirates acquired Bart from the San Francisco Giants, who had designated him for assignment, in exchange for minor league pitcher Austin Strickland, hoping to draw out whatever the Giants saw in the right-handed batter when they made him their first-round draft pick (second overall) in the 2018 June Amateur Draft. Bart rewarded the Pirates’ faith with a career year, hitting .265/.337/.462, 13 HR, and 45 RBI in just 80 games. He had the best slugging percentage and second-best on-base percentage (OBP) on the team.

Although he led the Pirates with the best OBP in 2025, Bart regressed to a stat line of .249/.355/.340, 4 HR, and 30 RBI in 93 games. His defense has been subpar. Across 2024 and 2025, he’s been charged with -5 Fielding Runs Above Average (FRAA) and -10 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). He’s caught just 18.3 percent of would-be base stealers. He doesn’t get high marks as a pitch framer, either. Per FanGraphs, Bart has cost the Pirates 4.3 Framing Runs (FRM) in the two years.

Should He Stay or Should He Go?

Previously on these pages, this writer predicted that Bart wouldn’t be tendered a contract by the Pirates. I thought that after making $1.175 million in 2025, whatever he would be paid for 2026 would be better spent elsewhere after a down year. (For those who may be unfamiliar, even after a bad season, players eligible for salary arbitration receive raises just by virtue of being living, breathing human beings.) However, in light of MLB Trade Rumors $2.7 million projection for Bart, less than I would’ve projected, I’m having second thoughts. Let’s examine the pros and cons of bringing Bart back to Pittsburgh for another season on $2.7 million.

The Case Against Bart

He Wasn’t Very Good in 2025

As noted above, Bart’s offensive production fell off dramatically in 2025. One has to think that 2024 was an aberration. In parts of four seasons with the Giants, he hit .219/.288/.335, 11 HR, and 38 RBI. All 11 home runs came in 2022. If Bart is indeed reverting to his pre-Pirates form, the production isn’t there to justify his weak glove.

He’d Be an Expensive Backup

Based on his 2025 performance and the continued improvement of Davis, a backup is what Bart should be. Front offices in baseball won’t admit it, but starting jobs are awarded based on salary as much as, and perhaps more than, performance. Thus, if Bart performs as he did in 2025, at $2.7 million, he’ll be either an expensive reserve catcher or a starting catcher undeserving of his role. Faced with these alternatives, the Pirates may be wise just to cut ties.

The Pirates Have Catching Depth

Flores was the marquee piece picked up in the trade deadline deal that sent David Bednar, who also came to the Pirates in the Musgrove trade, to the New York Yankees. He was just 3-for-15 in his brief taste of the majors last month. However, in the minors, his combined stat line was .280/.354/.470, 22 HR, and 88 RBI. It’s clear that he was acquired in the hopes that he could help the 2026 Pirates. If Rodríguez or Flores, or both, are ready for the majors, Bart becomes excess baggage.

The Case for Bart

He Was Very Good in 2024

The offensively challenged Pirates can’t afford to look the other way when there’s a good hitter in their midst. They might be well-served to give Bart another chance and determine whether it was 2025, and not 2024, that was an anomaly. If it makes for a crowded situation at catcher, so be it. There’s an old saying in baseball: If you can hit, they’ll find a place for you.

Furthermore, his defensive shortcomings may not matter as much now that Major League Baseball has adopted ABS for 2026. This would seem to take away the advantage of having a catcher with framing skills. Thus, Davis and others wouldn’t have an edge over Bart in this statistical category – or at least not much of an edge. This might entice the Pirates to keep Bart beyond 2026 as well. The use of technology in the game is like the expansion of the playoffs. Once it happens, we’re going to see more of it, not less. The day is coming when ABS will be used on all pitches, I’m guessing, no later than 2028. You read it first on Last Word On Sports.

He’s Not That Expensive

Two million dollars and change isn’t a lot to pay for a catcher who hit like Bart did in 2024. He’ll be just 29 years old when the season starts. The Pirates might be well-served. . . Wait a minute, I said all this already. Let’s move on.

The Pirates Don’t Have Catching Depth

Despite the Pirates’ desire to see Davis, Flores, and Rodríguez flourish in the major leagues, a betting man would say it won’t happen for all three in 2026. All three have minor league options remaining. Even with Davis’s improved defense and status as Skenes’ personal catcher, if he continues to struggle with the bat, he might need more time at Triple-A Indianapolis. Flores is reportedly far from a finished product behind the plate. He’s caught just 16 percent of would-be base thieves in four minor league seasons. If he goes north with the Pirates out of spring training, it might be at first base, where he saw action with the Pirates in September. Rodríguez spent all of 2024 and most of 2025 on the injured list. He might need to spend a year at Indy to shake off the rust.

The Last Word

So, what have we resolved? Not much, I’m afraid. Arguments from both sides have been laid out. The decision is best left to those with better baseball minds. I’m just some guy who writes stuff. What do you expect for free?