The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t sit quietly this offseason. In fact, they were one of the more aggressive teams on the market, making several moves aimed at closing the gap in a competitive NL Central.
One of their more intriguing pursuits? A potential trade with the Houston Astros for third baseman Isaac Paredes.
For a club that’s been openly searching for an upgrade at the hot corner, the fit made sense. But as is often the case in the offseason chess match, talks cooled - and the Pirates pivoted.
Instead of landing Paredes, Pittsburgh shifted focus to Eugenio Suárez. That pursuit didn’t pan out either, with Suárez ultimately landing back in Cincinnati.
So the Pirates recalibrated again, this time adding veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna on a one-year deal. It wasn’t the third base upgrade they initially sought, but Ozuna brings a power bat to a lineup that could use a bit more thump.
Now, according to reporting from Jason Mackey, Pittsburgh’s payroll is hovering around $105 million - a number that’s close to their internal ceiling. That makes any major addition, like Paredes, a tougher financial pill to swallow.
But it doesn’t necessarily close the door on a deal between the Pirates and Astros. In fact, the two clubs may still have unfinished business.
Joey Bart’s Name Resurfaces in Astros-Pirates Talks
One name that’s come up in those conversations? Catcher Joey Bart.
He was reportedly part of the initial discussions surrounding Paredes, and while that deal didn’t materialize, Bart remains a potential trade chip. And with the Astros dealing with some recent injury concerns around Yainer Diaz, a move for a capable backup catcher like Bart could make a lot of sense.
Bart’s journey to this point has been anything but linear. A standout at Georgia Tech, he was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the San Francisco Giants - seen at the time as the heir to Buster Posey.
But the bat didn’t develop quite as expected. After debuting in 2020, Bart struggled to get consistent traction at the plate, slashing just .233/.288/.320 in his first taste of big-league action.
Over the next two seasons, he bounced between Triple-A and the majors, unable to fully lock down a role.
In 2023, Bart finally cracked the Giants’ Opening Day roster, but the struggles continued, leading to a trade to Pittsburgh in 2024. Since arriving in the Steel City, though, there’s been real progress. Over two seasons with the Pirates, Bart has put together a .257/.347/.398 line with a 110 wRC+ - a solid showing for a catcher, especially one who’s still just 29 and under team control through 2027.
From Houston’s perspective, Bart could be a low-cost, high-upside insurance policy behind Diaz. With Cesar Salazar the only other catcher currently on the 40-man roster, depth at the position is thin. Bart is owed just $2.53 million in 2026, a figure that shouldn’t cause much financial strain even for a team mindful of its payroll.
There is one wrinkle to consider: Bart is a right-handed hitter, and the Astros have been actively seeking a left-handed bat, particularly in the outfield. Still, if Houston is serious about moving Paredes, and the Pirates are still listening, there’s a path here that could benefit both sides - perhaps even as part of a broader, multi-player deal.
For now, the Pirates seem content with their offseason haul, but with Spring Training just around the corner, there’s still time for another move to shake things up. Whether that involves Joey Bart, Isaac Paredes, or someone else entirely, the Pirates and Astros are two teams worth watching as the final pieces of the offseason puzzle fall into place.