This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it usually in your inbox.
It’s no secret that the Pirates will likely be searching for extra offense this offseason and subsequent 12 months. For a staff that has a spine of younger pitching, they should help them extra. It’s why Pittsburgh is out there for a brand new hitting coach and will likely be exploring free brokers and trades for gamers this offseason.
On the GM Conferences in San Antonio this week, common supervisor Ben Cherington acknowledged the Pirates are prepared to take a look at alternative ways to complement the staff, together with probably buying and selling from the Main League roster if the appropriate alternative presents itself. It doesn’t sound like that would come with their catchers, although.
“Proper now, we really feel some sense of power in having all three of them,” Cherington stated, in reference to Joey Bart, Henry Davis and Endy Rodríguez.
The Pirates have looked for stability at catcher since buying and selling Jacob Stallings after the 2021 season. For 3 straight seasons, they’ve signed a veteran on a one-year deal to be the perceived starter: Yasmani Grandal (560 1/3 innings in 2024) and Austin Hedges (507 1/3 innings in ’23) led the staff in innings caught the previous two seasons, and the identical would have seemingly been the case for Roberto Pérez in 2022 had he not gotten damage in early Could.
Barring unexpected circumstances, there’s no actual purpose for the Pirates to dive into the catcher free agent market this time round. There’s depth and every participant has upside. Davis was the primary general Draft choose in 2021. Rodríguez was thought-about a Prime 100 prospect in 2023.
However for those who’re which participant has the pole place for 2025, it’s the newcomer, Bart.
“Joey definitely took a step ahead,” Cherington stated. “He’s definitely, primarily based on what he did this 12 months, earned a spot, and definitely a head begin on a spot. We actually imagine in him and the modifications he’s made.”
Bart was a pleasing shock after being picked up from the Giants in April. He posted a .799 OPS with 13 dwelling runs over 80 video games, and regardless of a pair of journeys to the injured record, he was one of many staff’s most constant hitters. He’s earned one other look, however the place does that go away the 2 younger catchers that the Pirates thought they have been constructing round?
There are nonetheless questions surrounding each that must be answered. Davis was prolific on the plate within the Minors (.936 OPS), however struggled within the Majors (.454 OPS) in 2024. He absolutely acknowledged his points and tried making some changes in-season, like reverting again to his outdated mechanics and utilizing a smaller bat. He’s once more engaged on some modifications this offseason to attempt to dwell as much as his offensive potential. Whereas Cherington didn’t share what Davis is tweaking this offseason, having the ability to catch as much as excessive fastballs and take outdoors pitches the opposite means would go a great distance for him.
Rodríguez had a quick scare on the finish of the season as he returned to catching after rehabbing a proper UCL harm, however he’s nice now. Cherington anticipates Rodríguez will likely be full-go for Spring Coaching, however acknowledged that it’s not at all times that easy with severe accidents.
“Particularly at that place, we perceive it may take some time to get again into the complete velocity of issues,” Cherington stated.
The Pirates don’t have set starters at first base or proper subject, so there’s a case for transferring Davis to the outfield – the place he performed in 2023 – and Rodríguez to first. There’s no rush to try this proper now, although. Davis grew exponentially as a catcher, particularly as a receiver, over the previous 12 months, and Rodríguez received robust opinions from his pitchers developing via the Minors. Bart can’t carry the entire workload behind the plate, and one of the best model of each Rodríguez and Davis is as a catcher.
There’s loads of time between now and Opening Day, so there’s no have to rush into a choice now. Pittsburgh remains to be months away from Spring Coaching, in spite of everything. Maybe Davis’ tweaks take, Rodríguez’s elbow holds up and Bart builds off of a breakthrough season.
That’s clearly the best-case situation for the trio, however with some depth lastly on the place, it permits the Pirates to hedge their wager, too.
“We’re not anxious to maneuver out of that group,” Cherington stated. “We really feel prefer it’s a power to have all three. [We] anticipate going into Spring Coaching with them.”
