The Atlanta Braves addressed their catching depth on Thursday night, acquiring catcher Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton. Atlanta cleared roster space by designating catcher Sandy León for assignment, creating an opening on the 40-man roster. Bart brings a .259 batting average with two home runs, six RBIs and a .670 OPS across 21 games with Pittsburgh this season. The local product grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and starred at Georgia Tech before the San Francisco Giants selected him second overall in the 2018 draft.

The NL East leaders (46-27) already have 2025 Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin behind the plate, but All-Star Sean Murphy landed on the 60-day injured list with a broken finger. This injury created urgency for Atlanta to find reliable catching help while maintaining their division lead. Bart's familiarity with the organization and his offensive production could provide valuable insurance during Murphy's recovery.

Stratton appeared in one game for Atlanta this year, pitching a scoreless inning. He spent three seasons with Pittsburgh before joining the Braves in a previous trade. León struggled mightily this season, hitting just .091 with zero RBIs in 21 games.

This move gives Atlanta immediate catching insurance while Pittsburgh adds pitching depth to their organization. Bart's return to his hometown could provide the stability needed during a critical stretch run.