Henry Davis’ next raise won’t give the Pirates much cover.
MLB Trade Rumors projects the Pittsburgh catcher at $1.4 million in 2027, his first year of arbitration eligibility, and that number takes the easy financial argument off the table. For a major-league catcher, even one with real offensive problems, that is not a salary that should force a team’s hand.
The larger issue is what the Pirates do next at a position that still feels unsettled. Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, was supposed to develop into an impact bat behind the plate.
Instead, he finished 2026 at .172/.272/.313 with 10 home runs and a .585 OPS. Over four major-league seasons, his career batting average is .178.
Those are harsh numbers for a player Pittsburgh once viewed as a lineup cornerstone.
Still, Davis has given the Pirates something back on the other side of the ball. Once viewed as a shaky long-term catcher, he has become a dependable defender and ended 2026 with eight defensive runs saved. That makes him a sensible keep at $1.4 million if the role is limited to a defense-first backup.
That’s where the conversation gets more interesting for Pittsburgh. Rafael Flores Jr. has changed the look of the catching group. Picked up from the Yankees in the David Bednar trade, Flores hit .264/.331/.527 with 11 home runs and an .858 OPS in 2026, giving the Pirates the offensive production Davis has not.
Endy Rodríguez is also part of the picture. Before season-ending hip surgery, he posted an .840 OPS, and he is projected to earn $1.2 million through arbitration. The health question makes him a tougher bet, but the price point is still low.
Add it all up, and Davis and Rodríguez are projected to cost Pittsburgh about $2.6 million next season. That is very affordable depth for two catchers with big-league experience.
So the Pirates should have room to keep Davis around while they sort out whether Flores can become the long-term answer. They also have enough uncertainty at the position to at least look for outside help.
What they should not do is use Davis’ modest salary as a reason to act like catcher has been solved. His defense makes him worth the money, but the cost alone cannot be the justification for overlooking the bat.
Don Kelly put it this way on Henry Davis: "Henry [Davis] works his tail off every single day... he's so strong he doesn't need to muscle up to generate power."
The money is manageable. The patience, though, has already been stretched thin.
The Pirates can afford to wait on Davis. They just can’t keep pretending that waiting is a plan.
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Pirates Still Have Obvious 2027 Holes And These Fits Make Sense
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Names like Brooks Raley, Edmundo Sosa and A.J. Minter fit that general mold, giving Pittsburgh a few different ways to add competence without forcing a massive financial commitment. None of these types of moves would be the headline-grabbing kind, but for a club trying to chip away at its roster problems in a measured way, the appeal is in finding players who can raise the floor while leaving room for bigger decisions still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Fans Can Finally Judge Their Franchise Shaping 2021 Draft
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The rest of that class has played out in fits and starts. Third-rounder Bubba Chandler has emerged as the most encouraging success story, while several of the clubs high school picks have been slowed by injuries or limited at-bats, including outfielder Lonnie White Jr. and left-hander Anthony Solometo. For a front office that built around the idea of turning one draft into a core, the early returns are now mixed enough to keep the conversation open rather than settled. [Read more 🡒]
Murf Gray's Rise Just Made A Pirates Money Decision Real
Murf Grays first pro season in the Pirates system gave the organization something it rarely gets: a fast-rising bat that looks ready to shape a bigger roster conversation sooner than expected. Across three minor-league levels in 2026, Gray hit .305 with 32 home runs and 97 RBIs, production that turned a promising prospect into a genuine part of the clubs long-term infield planning.
That matters because Pittsburgh is already weighing how much it wants to invest in its current middle infield and payroll picture. If Gray keeps climbing and proves he can hold down third base, the Pirates could have more flexibility elsewhere, including around Brandon Lowes free agency and where Nick Gonzales fits in the years ahead. Nothing is settled yet, but Grays surge has made a money decision feel a lot more real. [Read more 🡒]