![\"Joey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bart2-1120x630.jpg\")
Photo provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The decision to trade catcher Joey Bart <\/a>to the Braves gives the Pirates a solution to a problem that soon needed to be made.<\/p>\n Bart had been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis, working his way back from a left foot infection that kept him out of action for over a month. <\/p>\n With Bart nearing a return, the Pirates were going to have to figure out what to do at catcher with Henry Davis and Endy Rodr\u00edguez splitting time behind the plate in his absence.<\/p>\n Given how Rodr\u00edguez has been swinging the bat since he was recalled from Indianapolis to replace Bart on the active roster, there was no way the Pirates could\u2019ve sent him down. In 23 games, the 26-year-old has a .267\/.413\/.467 batting line with three doubles, three home runs, eight RBI, two steals and a robust 19.7% walk rate.<\/p>\n Davis, meanwhile, has struggled to an anemic .138\/.242\/.285 batting line with four doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI in 47 games. While he hasn\u2019t offered much with the bat, he\u2019s been responsible for two defensive runs saved and leads MLB with a 55% caught stealing rate.<\/p>\n Now that Bart has been traded, Rodr\u00edguez and Davis will remain the catching tandem at the big-league level with Rafael Flores Jr. as the top backup option with Indianapolis. Flores is considered Pittsburgh\u2019s eighth-best prospect on MLB Pipeline. <\/p>\n For the first time in the big leagues, Rodr\u00edguez is realizing the potential that once made him one of the top 100 prospects in baseball. Because of that, he should get the majority of the playing time with Davis continuing to catch Paul Skenes\u2019 starts and filling in when needed. <\/p>\n As for the return, the Pirates known what to expect from Hunter Stratton, who spent nine seasons in the organization and made 47 appearances with the team from 2023-25.<\/p>\n The bullpen has been an obvious weak spot for the team this season, and while it was somewhat surprising to see the Pirates assign Stratton to Indianapolis, he improves the pitching depth and will almost surely be called upon at some point this year.<\/p>\n In 60 career big-league appearances between the Pirates and Braves, Stratton is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA and two saves. The right-hander spent most of the 2026 season with Triple-A Gwinnett and went 2-4 with a 4.38 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 24.2 innings across 21 appearances. <\/p>\n One more important note about the trade is that the Pirates saved some money in the deal, which could be used later in additional trades to add to an already record-setting payroll. Stratton is a pre-arbitration player, while Bart is making $2.53 million this season. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Hunter Stratton<\/a> Joey Bart<\/a> Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n