Pirates' list of potential trade pieces just expanded (with AL mystery team lurking)

There has been so much trade buzz surrounding the Pirates for the last two months, and it is finally time to see what they do. The deadline is less than 30 hours away, and only Adam Frazier has been dealt. As the clock ticks down, Joey Bart has reportedly joined the Pirates' group of potentially available players out of nowhere.

Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Bart's availability this morning via YouTube. He claimed that Bart was getting interest from a couple of teams, with one in particular coming from the American League. He added that the interest is about adding a right-handed bench bat to play against left-handers.

Pirates' catcher Joey Bart reportedly has a trade market brewing with a mystery American League team lurking.

Bart has been having a bit of a down season after posting a .799 OPS in 2024. His OPS has fallen to .646 this year with a 27.5% strikeout rate. His defense is also a bit mediocre behind the plate, generating a -3 FRV. The Pirates pitchers' ERA, with him catching, sits at 4.63. He is not a great defensive catcher, nor has his bat been productive this season, yet there is still good reason for interested parties to acquire him for that platoon role. His wRC+ of 149 against LHP this season is outstanding, but versus RHP, it falls to 66.

It's very possible the Yankees are eying up Bart to platoon with Austin Wells. They have three left-handed bats with Wells, Ben Rice, and J.C. Escarra, so that fit would make sense. The Blue Jays just lost Alejandro Kirk to a concussion, so that is also another possible American League club that may be interested.

San Diego is a National League team that deseperatley needs help at catcher. Elias Diaz and Martin Maldonado have been worse than Bart at the plate this season, and he'd be an immediate upgrade. Regardless of the team, Pittsburgh would be selling low on Bart, so the return would likely be a simple lower-ranked prospect or another sell-low, change-of-scenery big leaguer.

Hiles said that he does not expect Bart to get dealt, but it remains very possible now that there is known interest in his bat. With Danny Jansen already off the board, a team could get aggressive with Bart, especially given his club control through 2027. Pittsburgh needs to make some changes behind the plate anyway, and this is a great way to begin flushing that group around.