Joey Bart, designated for assignment Sunday by the San Francisco Giants, was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
Once considered the likely successor to Buster Posey as the Giants’ everyday catcher, Bart, 27, never quite stuck with the big club long-term in San Francisco. Selected by the Giants with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 amateur draft out of Georgia Tech, he played in 162 games over four seasons with San Francisco, hitting .219 in 457 at-bats with 11 homers, 38 RBIs and 178 strikeouts.
The Pirates, off to a 5-0 start, have organizational depth behind the plate, so where Bart fits in with the club remains to be seen. Henry Davis, a former No. 1 overall pick, has opened as the everyday catcher, with Jason Delay his backup. Pittsburgh also has veteran Yasmani Grandal, who is on the injured list, and Endy Rodríguez, who is on the 60-day injured list.
Pittsburgh sent minor league right-handed pitcher Austin Strickland to the Giants to complete the deal. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Colin Selby was designated for assignment on the team’s off day.
Bart, who made the Giants’ Opening Day roster in 2023, ended up hitting .207 with five doubles and five RBIs in 30 games. Ultimately, he spent the majority of last season with Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit .248 with 33 runs, 12 doubles, six home runs and 28 RBIs in 60 games.
Bart was caught up in a numbers game in San Francisco. The Giants had been carrying two other catchers in addition to Bart — Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy — and needed the roster spot for a pitcher, 28-year-old right-hander Daulton Jefferies, who started against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
The Pirates continue a three-game series vs. the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.