Carmen Mlodzinski Placed on Restricted List After Conflict Over Pitching Role

The Conflict Over Role and Roster Status

The tension between the organization and the 27-year-old right-hander reached a boiling point this weekend. After the Pirates activated Jared Jones from the 60-day injured list on Friday, the team opted to reorganize their starting five, keeping Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, and Jones in the rotation. Mlodzinski, who had made nine starts and two bulk appearances across 11 games this season, was informed he would move to a bulk-length role out of the bullpen.

The Pirates currently sit in a competitive stretch of their schedule, entering Sunday’s action trailing the division leader by 3.5 games. With the National League Central standings tightening as the calendar turns to June, the front office prioritized the return of Jones, who had been sidelined since April with a right lat strain. The team’s decision to move Mlodzinski to the bullpen was designed to provide length in middle relief, a role the organization deemed critical given the recent heavy workload placed on the relief corps during a taxing nine-game road trip.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the decision to shift Mlodzinski was made despite the team’s stated belief in his potential as a starter. The situation escalated when Mlodzinski indicated he was not prepared to accept the change in his usage, leading the front office to take action to maintain fairness for the rest of the roster.

Front Office Perspective on the Disagreement

Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington addressed the move on the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan, characterizing the situation as a difficult but necessary process. Cherington explained that the team had communicated their expectations to Mlodzinski leading up to the weekend, setting a clear deadline for his compliance with the new role.

For more on this story, see Pirates Place Carmen Mlodzinski on Restricted List Amid Rotation Changes.

“Going into the weekend, we understood and communicated with Carmen that at some point this weekend we were going to need him to be ready or we’d have to replace him on the team in fairness to the team, so that’s what happened today.” — Ben Cherington, Pirates General Manager, via MLB Trade Rumors

Cherington further emphasized that the team values open communication, even when disagreements arise. As Audacy reported, the GM noted that while Mlodzinski did not agree with the decision, the organization encourages players to be honest about their feelings. Cherington stated, “Not surprising, he did not agree with the decision. We want player to express that. We want players to be honest about how they feel about decisions and then it’s our job to work with them to get them into a spot where ‘ok, we disagree on this. We shared the information and now let’s go win games together’.”

From a roster management standpoint, the restricted list move allows the Pirates to remove Mlodzinski from the 26-man active roster without needing to designate him for assignment or trade him immediately. Under MLB rules, players on the restricted list do not accrue service time or salary, providing the club with a temporary roster spot to call up a replacement arm from Triple-A Indianapolis to address the immediate need for coverage during the upcoming three-game series against the Chicago Cubs starting Tuesday, June 2.

Performance and Future Outlook

The decision to prioritize other starters has sparked debate regarding the team’s rotation strategy. While Mlodzinski has posted a 3.76 ERA over 55 innings this season, he has struggled with hard contact, allowing a 50.9% hard-hit ball rate. However, his ability to limit home runs has kept his SIERA at 4.21. Some analysts have pointed out that Bubba Chandler, who remains in the rotation, has struggled with control while posting a 4.85 ERA over 52 innings. The Pirates’ coaching staff has been vocal about their desire to see improved efficiency from the back end of the rotation, noting that the current group of Skenes, Keller, and Jones is expected to shoulder the majority of the innings through the All-Star break.

Before being placed on the restricted list, Mlodzinski spoke to the media about his state of mind. As documented by Audacy, he expressed that he was evaluating his next steps.

“I can honestly say I’m just still communicating with the organization and the people in my corner, whether that’s my family or my agency, about what is next,” Mlodzinski said. “I really don’t have any comments after that.” — Carmen Mlodzinski, Pirates pitcher, via Audacy

Despite the current friction, the organization maintains that the absence will be short-lived. Cherington confirmed that the team is working through the issue and expects the right-hander to return to action soon. Barring any unforeseen developments, the Pirates anticipate Mlodzinski will be back on the mound in the immediate future, with the club continuing to control his contract through the 2029 season. Mlodzinski, who is currently in his pre-arbitration years, remains a key part of the team’s long-term pitching depth, and the club is hopeful that a resolution can be reached before the team departs for their next road series in Milwaukee on June 5.