The Atlanta Braves have completed a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, acquiring veteran catcher Joey Bart in exchange for right-handed reliever Hunter Stratton. This transaction addresses the Braves' ongoing need for catching support, particularly following a period where their primary catcher, Drake Baldwin, was sidelined due to injury. The move sees Bart, a native of Georgia, returning to his home state, bringing with him a solid track record from his time with both the San Francisco Giants and the Pirates. Meanwhile, Stratton, a familiar face to Pittsburgh fans, rejoins the Pirates organization, where he had previously played before his stint with Atlanta.
This strategic roster adjustment by the Braves is a direct response to their recent challenges behind the plate. With Drake Baldwin's recent return from an oblique injury, the acquisition of Bart provides essential depth and experience, ensuring the team has reliable options at catcher. The Pirates, in turn, gain a relief pitcher in Stratton, who will aim to contribute to their Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. This trade highlights both teams' efforts to optimize their rosters as the season progresses, making calculated moves to fill specific needs and enhance overall team performance in competitive league play.
Atlanta Secures Catching Depth with Bart Acquisition
The Atlanta Braves have successfully secured additional catching depth by acquiring Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates. This move was made to reinforce the team's roster, particularly after their regular catcher, Drake Baldwin, faced an injury layoff. Bart, who is 29 years old and originally from Georgia, played college baseball at Georgia Tech, making this a homecoming for him. He has demonstrated consistent performance throughout his career, maintaining a .240 batting average, a .319 on-base percentage, and a .369 slugging percentage across 356 major league games. His addition is expected to provide stability and experience behind the plate for the Braves.
Bart's recent performance includes a .259 batting average with two home runs and six RBIs in 21 games for the Pirates this year before a left foot infection led to his placement on the injured list. Upon his return, he completed five minor league rehab games, going 4-for-16 with a home run and two RBIs, indicating his readiness to rejoin major league action. The Braves had been actively seeking backup catching options during Baldwin's absence, cycling through players like Austin Wynns, Sandy Leon, and Chadwick Tromp. With Baldwin's impressive return to form, including hitting the longest home run in the majors this year, Bart's arrival provides a robust and experienced alternative, strengthening the Braves' catching corps significantly.
Stratton Returns to Pittsburgh in Exchange
In the trade that brought Joey Bart to Atlanta, the Braves sent right-handed relief pitcher Hunter Stratton back to the Pittsburgh Pirates. This marks a return to familiar territory for Stratton, who previously played for the Pirates from 2023 to 2025 before being traded to Atlanta last July. Stratton, also 29, had a brief appearance with the Braves this season, pitching one shutout inning against the Colorado Rockies on May 2nd. His tenure with Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate, Gwinnett, saw him post a 2-4 record with one save and a 4.38 ERA in 21 relief appearances before being designated for assignment.
Stratton's career major league statistics reflect a 3-2 record with two saves and a 3.75 ERA over 60 relief appearances. Upon rejoining the Pirates organization, he has been assigned to their Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate, where he will continue to develop and potentially contribute to the major league bullpen in the future. This exchange serves both teams' strategic interests, allowing the Braves to enhance their catching options while providing the Pirates with a known quantity in their pitching development system. The trade also resulted in Sandy Leon being designated for assignment by the Braves to create a 40-man roster spot for Bart, further illustrating the ripple effects of such player movements.
