Don Kelly hints at Pirates bullpen plan that could shake things up

Don Kelly didn’t come right out and announce a bullpen overhaul. He didn’t need to.

With just days left in camp, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ manager said the quiet part out loud — not in a declaration, but in a hint.

“Give them a taste of what that role might be like for them coming out of [the bullpen],” Kelly said of Mike Clevinger and Hunter Barco. “A role that they may be faced with during the season.”

Read between the lines, and a clear picture starts to form: the Pirates aren’t just finalizing a bullpen — they’re reimagining how it works.

For years, bullpen construction has followed a familiar script: defined innings, rigid roles, clean handoffs. But what Kelly is hinting at feels different. Both Clevinger and Barco are starters by trade. Both are stretched out. And both were deliberately used out of the bullpen — not as a last resort, but as a preview of something intentional.

The Pirates suddenly have a surplus of starting options. Rather than forcing square pegs into round holes, Kelly appears ready to weaponize that depth — turning it into a multi-inning attack that can bridge games in unconventional ways.

If there’s a hinge point in all of this, it’s Carmen Mlodzinski. A 2.92 ERA this spring, powered by a revamped pitch mix featuring a splitter and curveball, has pushed him to the front of the line for the final rotation spot. And in doing so, he’s created a ripple effect.

Because if Mlodzinski is in the rotation, someone else — maybe multiple someones — has to adjust. That’s where the “bulk reliever” concept comes in. Instead of a traditional fifth starter and a thin bullpen behind him, the Pirates could deploy waves: a shorter start, followed by a stretched-out arm like Barco or Clevinger to carry the middle innings.

Don Kelly hints at potential swingman roles for Hunter Barco, Mike Clevinger in Pirates' bullpen

Barco might be the cleanest fit for Kelly's vision. A left-hander with three new pitches, swing-and-miss ability (12 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings), and improving command, he offers something the Pirates don’t have much of: a multi-inning lefty who can neutralize lineups more than once.

His ability to go multiple innings also frees up high-leverage lefties like Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto to be used more surgically — fewer innings, bigger moments. That’s a trickle-down effect that could reshape the entire bullpen hierarchy.

Clevinger, on the other hand, is the wild card. The velocity jump is real — averaging 95.9 mph and touching 97. The health is real. The experience is undeniable. But so is the roster crunch.

The Pirates have to decide whether to carry him or risk losing him. And Kelly’s usage suggests they’re seriously considering a hybrid role. Clevinger as a bulk reliever might be a strategic weapon — a veteran who can stabilize games, cover innings, and step into the rotation if needed.

What Kelly is hinting at is a philosophical shift — one that focuses less on labels and more on leverage. He is envisioning a bullpen where roles are fluid, where starters become relievers (and maybe back again), and where matchups dictate usage more than tradition.

It’s risky. It requires buy-in. It demands adaptability. But it also might be exactly what this Pirates team needs.