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White Sox Land Joey Bart in Blockbuster Trade
White Sox Trade for Catcher Joey Bart: What You Need to Know
The Big News: What Happened?
The Chicago White Sox just made a trade with the Atlanta Braves to get a new catcher. Here’s the simple breakdown:
- Chicago gets: Catcher Joey Bart
- Atlanta gets: Right-handed pitcher Duncan Davitt (who was recently removed from the White Sox roster)
- Reported by: ESPN’s Jeff Passan and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand
Think of it like swapping baseball cards — but with real players who will put on different uniforms!
Why Did the Braves Trade Bart?
The Braves had a "too many catchers" problem. Here’s what happened:
- Sean Murphy (their star catcher) got hurt and went on the injured list
- Atlanta traded for Joey Bart from the Pirates in June as a backup plan
- They also called up Drake Baldwin, a young catcher who played well
- Now Murphy is healthy again and almost ready to come back
- With Murphy + Baldwin as their two catchers, Bart became the odd man out
Think of it like this: You have two favorite toys. You borrow a third toy while one is broken. When the first toy gets fixed, you don’t need the borrowed toy anymore — so you give it to a friend.
Who Is Joey Bart?
The Basics
- Position: Catcher (the player behind home plate who catches pitches)
- Age: 27 years old
- Draft history: 2nd overall pick in 2018 (that’s really high — like being picked first for kickball!)
- Team history: Giants → Pirates → Braves → White Sox
His Stats (Explained Simply)
Baseball uses something called a "slash line" — three numbers separated by slashes. Here’s what Bart’s numbers mean:
| Stat | What It Means | Bart’s 2026 Season |
|---|---|---|
| .226 | Batting Average — how often he gets a hit | Gets a hit ~23% of the time |
| .303 | On-Base Percentage — how often he reaches base | Reaches base ~30% of the time |
| .377 | Slugging Percentage — how much power he has | Some pop, but not a huge power hitter |
| 4 HR | Home Runs | 4 in 119 plate appearances |
In plain English: Bart is an okay hitter — not great, not terrible. His 2026 numbers look a lot like his career averages over 7 seasons.
Why Did the White Sox Want Him?
Their Catcher Situation Was a Mess
Chicago thought catching would be a strength this year. Instead, it’s been a disaster:
- Kyle Teel (top prospect, future star) → Played only 19 games, hurt until late August with an ankle sprain
- Edgar Quero (another young catcher) → Hasn’t hit at all
- Reese McGuire & Drew Romo (veteran backups) → Also haven’t hit
Bart Fits as a "Band-Aid" Solution
- Stabilizes the position until Teel gets healthy
- Low cost: Only $840,000 left on his salary this year
- Team control: "Arbitration-controlled through 2027" = White Sox can keep him for two more years at a reasonable price
- Option value: If Teel doesn’t return in 2026, Bart can stay. If Quero doesn’t improve, Bart could even take his spot.
"Arbitration-controlled" explained: The team owns the player’s rights for a few more years and can negotiate salary each year instead of the player becoming a free agent. It’s like having a lease instead of renting month-to-month.
What This Means for Both Teams
For the White Sox
- Surprise contenders! Chicago is unexpectedly in the playoff race
- Bart gives them a competent, cheap catcher right now
- Buys time for Teel to heal properly
- Low risk — if it doesn’t work, they didn’t give up much
For the Braves
- Clears a roster spot for Murphy’s return
- Gets a pitching prospect (Davitt) instead of a 3rd catcher they don’t need
- Davitt was "DFA’d" (Designated for Assignment) = removed from roster to make room, but has talent
For Duncan Davitt
- Fresh start in a new organization
- Braves need pitching depth — opportunity to prove himself
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
- This is a depth move, not a blockbuster — don’t expect Bart to be an All-Star
- Teel is still the future at catcher for Chicago
- Cost is minimal — both salary ($840K) and trade capital (Davitt was already DFA’d)
- White Sox are actually competing — this helps them stay in the race
- Braves get pitching help — their biggest need right now
Summary
The White Sox traded for Joey Bart because their catchers kept getting hurt or struggling at the plate. Bart isn’t a superstar, but he’s a reliable, affordable backup who can hold the fort until their top prospect Kyle Teel returns from injury. The Braves were happy to move him because their star catcher Sean Murphy is healthy again, and they got a pitching prospect in return. It’s a classic "win-win" baseball trade — each team solves a specific problem without giving up much.
FAQ
Is Joey Bart good?
He’s average. Not bad, not great. He hits around .226 with some power. For a backup catcher making very little money, that’s perfectly fine.
Why did the Braves give him up for just a pitcher who was cut?
Because they had to. They had three catchers for two spots. Keeping Bart would mean sending a better player (Baldwin) to the minors or cutting someone else. Getting anything for Bart was better than losing him for nothing.
What does "DFA" mean?
Designated for Assignment. It means the team removed the player from their 40-man roster. They have 7 days to trade him, release him, or send him to the minors (if he clears waivers). Davitt was DFA’d earlier that same day.
Will Bart stay with the White Sox next year?
Probably. He’s under team control through 2027 and makes very little money. Unless Teel comes back and plays amazing and Quero suddenly starts hitting, Bart has a good shot to stick around.
Does this mean the White Sox are "buyers" at the trade deadline?
Yes! Usually bad teams "sell" (trade away veterans). The fact that Chicago added a player shows they believe they can compete for the playoffs — a big surprise for 2026!
