Carmen Mlodzinski is paying for a Pirates problem he didn’t create

Nobody should blame Carmen Mlodzinski for being frustrated. After all, he did exactly what the Pirates asked him to do.

When the organization gave him another opportunity to start in 2026, Mlodzinski embraced it. He posted a 3.76 ERA over 55 innings, struck out 46 batters and helped the Pirates go 8-3 in games he appeared in. And yet, after years fighting to prove he belongs in a Major League rotation, the reward for that performance was another trip back to the bullpen.

That's a tough pill to swallow, and Mlodzinski earned the right to feel disappointed. The problem, though, is that this decision was never really about him. It's about a Pirates bullpen that has spent the last month actively sabotaging the team.

Since April 27, Pittsburgh's relievers have posted a 5.33 ERA, one of the worst marks in baseball. They've blown leads, failed to keep games close and routinely turned manageable situations into disasters. The Pirates are 1-20 when trailing after six innings because the bullpen can't stop games from getting away. Just look at Thursday's loss to the Chicago Cubs, when a one-run deficit quickly turned into a five-run loss.

That's the problem. And unfortunately for Mlodzinski, he's the best solution they have.

Is it unfair? Absolutely. Mlodzinski didn't create the bullpen mess. He didn't ask for the Pirates to enter the season with one of the least reliable relief groups in baseball. He didn't ask for the team to need someone capable of throwing multiple high-leverage innings whenever a starter exits early.

Yet that's exactly why he's moving back to relief. Because he's really good at it.

Carmen Mlodzinski has every right to be frustrated about his move to the bullpen, but Pirates need him to be a team player

The Pirates know Mlodzinski can bridge games. They know he can throw two, three or even four innings while neutralizing the opponent's best hitters. They know he can stabilize chaos.

Moving, say, Bubba Chandler to the bullpen wouldn't solve that problem. In fact, it would probably make it worse. Chandler already struggles with command. He leads the majors in walks and frequently battles through stressful innings. Asking him to suddenly become a reliable high-leverage reliever would be a gamble at best.

Mlodzinski gives the Pirates something they don't currently have. That doesn't mean he has to like it — but some of his comments Thursday were surprising.

Mentioning that he's consulting with his family and his agency about "what's next" might be honest, but it's not something teammates typically want to hear in the middle of a season. Not when the organization is asking you to fill a role because the team desperately needs it.

The reality of the situation is that Mlodzinski isn't being demoted because he failed. He's being moved because he succeeded. Frankly, it shows that the Pirates trust him enough to hand him one of the most important jobs on the pitching staff.

And let's not pretend this closes the door on starting forever. The Pirates are managing innings. Injuries happen, performance fluctuates, and rotations change constantly. There is every reason to believe another opportunity will come for Mlodzinski.

For now, though, the team needs him somewhere else. It's frustrating, and it's unfair. But it's also baseball.

Mlodzinski is paying the price for a Pirates problem he didn't create. Yet if Pittsburgh is going to have any chance of fixing that problem, they need him to embrace the role. The bullpen needs him. The team needs him. And whether he likes the decision or not, the Pirates probably got this one right.

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