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The Atlanta Braves made a move to bolster their catching depth on Thursday, acquiring catcher Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for reliever Hunter Stratton.
To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta designated veteran backup catcher Sandy León for assignment. The Braves had already designated Stratton for assignment earlier this week, and the club quickly found a trade partner in Pittsburgh before losing him on waivers.
Bart, 29, provides Atlanta with a catcher who brings both major league experience and offensive upside. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants has spent parts of six seasons in the majors. After being traded to Pittsburgh prior to the 2024 season, Bart revitalized his career and emerged as a productive contributor behind the plate.
For the Braves, the acquisition addresses organizational depth at a position that has become increasingly important as the season progresses. While All-Star catcher Sean Murphy remains Atlanta’s primary option, Bart gives the club another experienced major league catcher capable of handling pitching staffs while contributing offensively.
Braves bet on Bart’s upside
The Pirates, meanwhile, elected to option Stratton to Triple-A Indianapolis rather than add him immediately to their active roster. The 28-year-old right-hander has appeared in parts of three major league seasons and provides Pittsburgh with additional bullpen depth. His ability to generate ground balls and work multiple innings could make him a valuable call-up option later in the season.
The move represents a relatively low-risk transaction for both organizations. Atlanta gains a catcher with former top-prospect pedigree and proven major league experience, while Pittsburgh acquires a controllable reliever who could factor into its bullpen plans moving forward.
As the Braves continue to chase postseason positioning, adding Bart gives the club additional flexibility behind the plate and strengthens one of the most important positions on the roster heading into the second half of the season.
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