The offseason has been a quiet one for Ben Cherington and the Pirates' front office. Outside of a few additions via free agency and trades, they haven't done much to improve the roster. So, as spring training approaches and the team heads to Bradenton, Fla, there are questions that need answered. 

That being said, welcome to the first edition of our 2025 positional preview. Over the next seven days, I'll be previewing each position, starting today with the catchers and working my way around the diamond before finishing with the starting rotation and bullpen on Sunday and Monday, respectively. We'll look at what players are in the hunt for playing time, take a look back at what happened in 2024 and what the outlook is for 2025. Hope you enjoy.

• Position: Catcher

• Players: Joey Bart, Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez and Jason Delay.

• 2024 review: The 2024 season was a mixture of Joey Bart, Yasmani Grandal and Henry Davis. There were also those two games in late May and early June when 27-year-old rookie Grant Koch strapped on the gear. But, outside of the 34 games that Davis spent behind the plate, Bart and Grandal split the workload fairly evenly. 

Grandal appeared in 71 games while Bart appeared in 69, but the latter was the better option, offensively. After being traded in early April, Bart provided the lineup with extra pop as he hit 13 home runs and drove in 45 runs with a .799 OPS. It was a career year for the former No. 2-overall pick as he set career highs in runs (38), hits (67), doubles (11), home runs, RBIs, batting average (.265), on-base percentage (.337) and slugging percentage (.462). He wasn't the best offensive player on the team but became someone the Pirates could rely on when they needed a run. However, Bart needs to improve defensively, which was something he focused on this offseason. 

While producing a slash line of .228/.304/.400 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs, Grandal was Paul Skenes' main battery mate. Of the 133 innings Skenes threw, Grandal caught 116. Bart caught two of Skenes' appearances and Koch caught one. Skenes always spoke highly of Grandal and credited him for a lot of his success during his first season. That is obviously something that will change with Grandal being a free agent after signing a one-year deal last offseason.

Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, was up and down throughout the season. He started the year with the Pirates, but was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis on May 3 after hitting for a .169 average and striking out 27 times in March and April. He was recalled on June 4 but suffered a concussion a few days later and was sent back to the minors until late August. A hand injury then kept him sidelined late in the year.

2025 outlook: Bart is set to be the leader of the group and Derek Shelton said as much last month at PiratesFest: "Going into the season, I think he deserves the opportunity that he proved over the last half of the year to get a lot of the starts." 

With the offensive numbers that Bart put up, he's the best option and has put in the work this offseason to improve his defensive approach. He said he's emphasized getting to know the pitching staff, how their pitches move, what they like and don't like and just how to manage them on a day-to-day basis. He's also worked on new stances behind the plate, has developed an arm-care program. Building on 2024 will be crucial as the Pirates have fumbled any opportunity to add a power bat. But, Bart's ability to manage a young pitching staff that consists of a generational talent in Skenes and a young Jared Jones along with Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter, Johan Oviedo and possibly Bubba Chandler, at some point, will be just as important. 

Last season was just the second time that Bart has played more than 80 games in a season at the major-league level. For a player that was once seen as Buster Posey's replacement in San Francisco, this is a big year, especially with two big question marks behind him.

This is a make-or-break year for Davis. Since being drafted, the former Louisville Cardinal hasn't amounted to much. He was tested in right field in 2023 but produced a measly slash line of .213/.302/.351 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 62 games, 49 of which were spent in right field. Consistent injuries derailed his opportunities last season, but he did hit for a .307 average in 57 games with Class AAA Indianapolis and added 13 home runs and 43 RBIs. Heading into 2025, Davis is surely a big question mark.

Rodriguez is set to emerge as an option after undergoing Tommy John surgery last offseason and man, is he excited. I've had limited interactions with him so far, but he's full of energy and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get back on the field.

I'll follow that up with this: Rodriguez said last month at PiratesFest that he's a catcher first and foremost, but if it helps the team win, he'll play wherever he needs to. He's worked at first base in the past but in order to get on the field, Rodriguez needs to perform at the plate. During his only extended time at the big-league level, he produced a slash line of .220/.284/.328 over 57 games in 2023. He added three home runs and 13 RBIs while walking 17 times and striking out 49. Outside of putting together a strong spring training, Rodriguez may start in the minors which would give him time to get into a rhythm before jumping right back into the majors.

Delay is the last catcher on the 40-man roster, but, at this point, he's more of a depth piece. He has played three major-league seasons but only appeared in seven games last year and he's never hit above .251. 

Barring any injuries in spring training, I don't see Cherington adding to this group before they open up the season against the Marlins on March 27. They have much bigger needs on the roster and they are not in a bad spot behind the plate.