Joey Bart Is Heading Back to Georgia After a Trade That Says a Lot About Both Teams

The Atlanta Braves pulled off a quiet trade Thursday that could end up being more interesting than it looks on paper. They sent reliever Hunter Stratton to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for catcher Joey Bart, a Georgia native who’s been rehabbing a foot infection since early May.

Bart grew up in Buford, went to Georgia Tech, and was drafted second overall by the Giants in 2018. So this is a homecoming. But it’s also a bet that Bart’s modest resurgence in Pittsburgh was real. After flopping in San Francisco, he hit .257 with 17 homers across the last two seasons for the Pirates, posting a 110 wRC+. That’s not star-level, but it’s useful. Especially for a Braves team that’s been scrambling behind the plate.

Why Atlanta needed another catcher

Sean Murphy broke his finger and hasn’t played since mid-May. The Braves have been cycling through backup options like a revolving door. Sandy Leon was the latest stopgap, and he got designated for assignment to clear space for Bart. Drake Baldwin, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, has been carrying the load, but Atlanta clearly wants more depth. Bart gives them a right-handed bat who can actually hit a little. He was slashing .259/.670 OPS in 21 games before the infection landed him on the IL.

The Braves are betting Bart’s rehab assignment (4-for-16 with a homer in five games) means he’s ready to contribute right away. They wouldn’t have cut Leon otherwise.

What the Pirates are getting

Stratton is a 29-year-old righty who the Pirates originally drafted in the 16th round back in 2017. He’s bounced between the majors and minors, posting a 3.75 ERA in 60 career big-league appearances. He made one outing for Atlanta this year — a scoreless inning — and spent most of his time at Triple-A, where he had a 4.38 ERA. Pittsburgh optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis after the trade.

This move is about clearing a path for the Pirates’ younger catchers. Endy Rodriguez has taken over the starting job, hitting .267 with a .413 OBP in limited action. Henry Davis, the former No. 1 overall pick, is the other option. Bart was surplus. Stratton is a depth arm.

For Atlanta, this is a low-cost swing on a guy who might actually be figuring it out. For Pittsburgh, it’s a roster trim. Sometimes trades are that simple.