Key facts
- Atlanta Braves acquired catcher Joey Bart from Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Pitcher Hunter Stratton was traded to the Pirates in exchange.
- Sandy León was designated for assignment by the Braves.
- Bart is batting .259 with two home runs and six RBIs for Pittsburgh.
- Stratton pitched one scoreless inning for the Braves this season.
The Atlanta Braves have acquired catcher Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Hunter Stratton. The move, announced Thursday night, aims to bolster the Braves' catching depth as they contend for a postseason spot. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Braves designated veteran backup catcher Sandy León for assignment. The Pirates assigned Stratton to their Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.
Bart, 29, was batting .259 with two home runs, six RBIs, and a .670 OPS in 21 games for Pittsburgh. He is currently on the 10-day injured list with an infection in his left foot. Bart, a former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants, grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and played college baseball at Georgia Tech. He has spent parts of six seasons in the majors.
The Braves, who lead the NL East, already have Drake Baldwin and the injured Sean Murphy at catcher. Murphy is on the 60-day injured list with a broken finger, making Bart's acquisition a strategic move for organizational depth.
Stratton, 28, appeared in one game for the Braves this season, pitching a scoreless inning. He previously played for the Pirates from 2023-2025 before being traded to Atlanta last July. The Pirates acquired him in a trade with the Braves, reuniting him with the organization where he previously played.