Atlanta reshapes its roster for the pennant race, acquiring right-handers Duncan Davitt and Tyler Uberstine as Sean Murphy’s return from the injured list looms in the clubhouse.
The Atlanta Braves are trading catcher Joey Bart to the Chicago White Sox and outfielder Eli White to the Boston Red Sox, according to multiple reports. Both trades were completed about an hour before the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.
The Braves will receive Duncan Davitt in exchange for Bart. Davitt is a 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher who was recently designated for assignment by the White Sox. He originally signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022.
Bart appeared in 20 games for the Braves, hitting .188 with two home runs, seven RBIs, a .316 on-base percentage and a .691 OPS. He is a former first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants who spent a cup of coffee with Atlanta after being traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates in June.
Davitt appeared in two major league games this season and has a 6.22 ERA across 59 1/3 innings in the minors. He has made 10 starts and recorded one save while moving between the rotation and bullpen at Triple-A.
The Braves' catching situation now leans heavily on Drake Baldwin, who is having a strong season while hitting .272 with 20 home runs, 57 RBIs and an .832 OPS. Power-hitting catcher Sean Murphy is likely to be activated from the injured list Tuesday, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
Murphy fractured his left middle finger on May 10. In four games this season, he is hitting .071 with one hit in 14 at-bats.
Atlanta was in a position to move a backup catcher given Murphy's return. The Braves also added veteran starting pitcher Tyler Mahle from the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night and left-handed reliever Brent Suter from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday afternoon.
White has hit .233 over four seasons with the Braves. Atlanta will receive right-handed pitcher Tyler Uberstine in exchange for White. Uberstine has a 3.23 ERA across 19 minor league appearances this season. He has made one major league appearance for the Red Sox, throwing 2 2/3 innings and allowing one earned run. Uberstine, 27, was drafted out of Northwestern in the 2021 MLB Draft.
White has five home runs and a .691 OPS this season while appearing in 69 games. He was acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash in 2023.
Atlanta is currently in first place in the NL East with an eight-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Time will tell whether the Braves make any additional moves before the trade deadline.
