Pirates have a Joey Bart problem they can no longer avoid in 2026

Pittsburgh Pirates v Boston Red Sox | Richard T Gagnon/GettyImagesSince being acquired by the Pirates at the beginning of the 2024 season, Joey Bart has been one of the team’s most consistent offensive producers—his 110 wRC+ in that span is the highest among players who played for Pittsburgh in both seasons. The former No. 2 overall pick has enjoyed a bit of a career resurgence after being traded over from San Francisco.

But heading into 2026, Bart's role is far from a certainty. Over the course of last season, Bart had his starting role usurped by Henry Davis, and it’s easy to see why. Davis was a disaster at the plate, but he was a No. 1 overall pick, and the team still hopes his bat will…