On Sunday, Pittsburgh Pirates fans were encouraged by the return of Joey Bart, although general manager Ben Cherington’s comments left much to be desired. Bart, a right-handed hitting catcher and former San Francisco Giants No. 1 pick (second overall) in the 2018 draft, had been sidelined with a thumb injury. Acquired in a surprising mid-season trade, Bart has been the Pirates’ best-hitting catcher in 2024, boasting a .250/.342/.484 slash line with four home runs, 12 RBIs, and a 134 OPS+ in 23 games.
The Pirates are in dire need of offense, particularly from the catcher position. Veteran Yasmani Grandal, signed for $2.5 million in the spring, has struggled, hitting .179/.212/.268 with two home runs, 15 RBIs, and a 37 OPS+ over 37 games. Another catcher, Henry Davis, has also underperformed, hitting .153/.267/.235 with one home run, five RBIs, and a 46 OPS+ before being placed on a rehab assignment in Double-A Altoona.
Bart needs to be the primary catcher for the Pirates. He was immediately put into the starting lineup on Sunday, despite going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and two hard-hit balls. Bart should receive the majority of playing time behind the plate, with the hope that he can maintain his pre-injury form. Given Cherington’s recent comments, Bart’s performance is crucial.
Cherington’s Disappointing Comments
Cherington must take responsibility for the Pirates’ disappointing offense, as their .227 team batting average is the worst in the National League. They rank 13th in runs scored and home runs. Besides Grandal, Cherington added Michael A. Taylor and Rowdy Tellez before the season. Taylor is hitting .191/.244/.248 with a 34.1 percent strikeout rate, far from his 21 home runs with the Minnesota Twins last year. Tellez, after a slow start, has heated up in June but has only hit four home runs so far. With more productive hitters, Tellez’s current performance would be acceptable, and Bart could be one of those needed hitters.
Cherington had previously expressed a willingness to trade from the Pirates’ surplus of young pitching prospects for offensive help. He reiterated this on his radio show on Pittsburgh’s 93.7-FM, stating, “We’re at a period where it makes sense for us to consider turning certain players—prospects, younger players—into players that can help our major league team improve in the short term. We’re on the phone every day with teams.”
Internal Improvement vs. External Acquisitions
However, Cherington also emphasized looking for “internal improvement” from the current roster. He spoke extensively about development, saying, “If we believe in those players, then we got to sell out to that belief and believe that the time that they’re getting in the major leagues, the development, experience they’re getting is going to pay off. (T)he numbers say that if that group improves as a group, it’s still going to make a bigger impact than any single external acquisition we can make.”
This season is expected to have more buyers than sellers, with hitters like Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox and Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Josh Bell of the Miami Marlins being hot commodities. Some pundits suggest a Pirates/Bell reunion makes sense, while an internet rumor linking the Pirates to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. seems far-fetched.
Focus on Bart and Pirates Catchers
Bart is out of options and must remain with the Pirates to avoid being lost on waivers. Grandal’s salary likely ensures his stay for the season unless traded. Davis remains on his rehab assignment. Cherington expressed satisfaction with a Bart-Grandal catching tandem and confidence in Davis. However, with Davis underperforming and having options, he might not return to the majors this season barring an injury or trade.
Cherington praised Grandal’s leadership, though Pirates fans are weary of weak-hitting “leaders.” The Pirates need to give Bart the majority of playing time behind the plate. His on-base percentage and power numbers are promising and sustainable, as evidenced by his 11 homers in 97 games for the Giants in 2022 and 46 homers with a .348 OBP in the minor leagues.
Next season, with Grandal gone, Endy Rodríguez will be healthy and competing for the No. 1 catcher spot. A possible solution could be platooning the switch-hitting Rodríguez with Bart, leaving Davis as the odd man out again. Although his 2023 trial in the outfield was unsuccessful, Davis might need to learn another position or settle for being a full-time designated hitter if he can hit and if Andrew McCutchen retires.
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The Last Word
Pirates fans hope Cherington’s belief in his current team and coaches pays off. The Pirates were right to be patient with Tellez, which likely boosted clubhouse morale. However, players also want to win, and seeing improvements can be encouraging. Sticking with Tellez made sense early in the season, but now it’s July, and the second half has begun. Some players haven’t justified Cherington’s belief, and with a stellar starting rotation and a weaker National League, the Pirates have a rare opportunity to contend for a wild card spot. Cherington should act before the trade deadline to avoid finding the available options picked over, like a shopper doing his Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve.
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