Joey Bart Traded While On The IL, But That's Not The Wildest Part Of This Pirates Deal

Alright, fam, listen up! While we're still buzzing from a solid Mariners win tonight, big news is shaking up the league. The Pittsburgh Pirates just pulled off a trade with the Atlanta Braves, sending catcher Joey Bart to the ATL in exchange for right-handed reliever Hunter Stratton. But here's where it gets wild: Bart's been chilling on the 15-day IL since May 12 with a left foot infection! Talk about a curveball.

Stratton's Boomerang Back To Pittsburgh

So, who exactly is Hunter Stratton, you ask? Well, it gets even more interesting. This isn't Stratton's first rodeo in Pittsburgh! The guy was originally drafted by the Pirates way back in the 16th round of the 2017 draft. He even saw big league action for them, pitching 47 games across 2023 to 2025, racking up a 2-1 record with a 4.30 ERA and one save. But then, in July 2025, they shipped him off to Atlanta in a deal for prospect Titus Dumitru and cash. Now, after just about a year away, he's back! He actually pitched pretty well for the Braves last year, going 1-1 with a solid 2.20 ERA in 12 appearances. This 2026 season, he spent most of it down in Triple-A Gwinnett, where he posted a 2-4 record with a 4.38 ERA over 21 appearances, totaling 24.2 innings, allowing 24 hits, walking 16, and striking out 24 batters. He only saw one big league game for Atlanta this season, a scoreless inning against the Rockies on May 2, before the Braves designated him for assignment. Now, at 29 years old, he's back in the Pirates system, assigned straight to Triple-A Indianapolis. What

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a full-circle moment!

Joey Bart Heads South On The IL

On the flip side of this wild swap, we've got catcher Joey Bart, heading to the Braves organization. As I mentioned, the guy's been out of commission since May 12, with his stint on the 15-day IL retroactive to May 10, all thanks to a left foot infection. Just before he hit the IL, Bart was making an impact for the Pirates. In 21 games played this season, he was hitting a respectable .259 with a .290 on-base percentage and a .379 slugging percentage. He had already notched a double, two home runs, and driven in six RBIs for Pittsburgh. Bart spent the last three seasons with the Pirates, accumulating 194 games under his belt. During that time, he owned a .257/.342/.396 batting line, crushing 24 doubles, one triple, 19 homers, and bringing in 81 RBIs. It's a tough break to be traded while you're rehabbing, especially with an infection, but hey, that's baseball sometimes. The Braves are getting a catcher who, when healthy, can certainly put up some solid offensive numbers. Hopefully, that foot heals up fast! So, there you have it, an MLB trade that's got more twists than a T-Mobile Park pretzel. While those two squads are shuffling their rosters, we here in Seattle are focused on our guys. The Mariners just shut out the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 tonight, keeping that momentum rolling! You love to see it. What does this trade mean for the Pirates and Braves? We'll have to keep an eye on Stratton's Triple-A performance and Bart's recovery in Atlanta. But for us, it's all about the next Mariners game. Let's keep that winning vibe going, Seattle! We bleed green and blue!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.