Carmen Mlodzinski may get his wish but Pirates drama comes with a cost

For years, Carmen Mlodzinski has fought to prove he belongs in a Major League rotation. He has bounced between roles, been optioned, recalled, stretched out, shortened up, and asked to do whatever the Pittsburgh Pirates needed.

When Jared Jones opened this season on the injured list, Mlodzinski stepped into the rotation and delivered. Over the last month in particular, he showed he is capable of being more than just a bullpen arm.

That's why Mlodzinski's frustration over being moved back to the bullpen after Jones' return was understandable. What happened next, though, is much harder to defend.

The Pirates placed Mlodzinski on the restricted list Sunday after he informed the club he "wasn't ready to pitch" if called upon out of the bullpen. Whether that was the result of frustration, disagreement with the role change or something else entirely, the optics are disastrous. And the unfortunate reality for Mlodzinski is that those optics may follow him far longer than his current situation in Pittsburgh.

Ironically, Mlodzinski may still end up getting exactly what he wants.

After this weekend, it feels increasingly difficult to imagine a long-term future between him and the Pirates. If the relationship has deteriorated to the point where he is unavailable because of his displeasure with a role change, a trade eventually becomes a very real possibility.

A rebuilding club looking for starting pitching could absolutely view Mlodzinski as a worthwhile gamble. His numbers as a starter this season were solid, and teams across baseball are always searching for affordable rotation help.

The problem is that every front office now has to weigh that talent against a new question: what happens when Mlodzinski doesn't get what he wants?

Fair or unfair, that question will now exist.

Carmen Mlodzinski damaged his reputation (and his potential trade value) with his actions after Pirates bullpen move

Major League organizations place enormous value on players who embrace whatever role helps the team win. Starting pitchers move to the bullpen. Relievers become spot starters. Veterans lose playing time. Young players get sent back to Triple-A. It happens constantly.

Teams understand players won't always be happy about those decisions. They don't expect them to be. What they do expect is professionalism, and that's why this situation could end up damaging Mlodzinski's value in ways that don't show up on a stat sheet.

The Pirates would likely receive less in a trade than they would have a week ago because other clubs know they are now dealing from a position of weakness. More importantly, decision-makers around baseball now have reason to question how Mlodzinski might react when adversity inevitably arrives again.

Maybe Mlodzinski eventually gets traded. Maybe that new organization gives him a permanent spot in a starting rotation. Maybe he thrives and proves he belongs there. But even if that happens, the reputation he gained this weekend will still be part of his story.

For a player trying to convince the rest of baseball he deserves a larger role, that's probably the last thing he should have wanted.

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