The Pittsburgh Pirates placed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski on the restricted list Sunday after he told the team he “wasn’t ready to pitch” if called upon out of the bullpen.
On Wednesday, Mlodzinski was informed that — despite a very solid month of May as a starter — he would be bumped to the bullpen to make room for Jared Jones, who returned from injury for his first start of the year Friday night.
Mlodzinski didn’t appear to take the news well at all, saying, “I’m just still communicating with the organization and the people in my corner, whether that’s my family or my agency, about what’s next.”
Apparently, what was next was to tell the Pirates he was in no position to come out of the bullpen during this weekend series versus the Minnesota Twins. So general manager Ben Cherington put him on the restricted list.
Pirates GM Ben Cherington addresses the decision to place RHP Carmen Mlodzinski on the restricted list. pic.twitter.com/4V6819p5PX
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) May 31, 2026
According to MLB.com, “The restricted list is for players who are under contract but unable to play due to unexcused, personal or non-baseball reasons. There’s no limit to how long a player can stay on the restricted list, but he isn’t paid and doesn’t earn service time.”
The website is also reporting that Mlodzinski felt he “wasn’t physically or mentally ready to help the team win in his new role just yet,” and that the 27-year-old right-hander “seems to be on board with his role in the bullpen, and is prepared to pitch in Houston on Tuesday.”
On Friday, I wrote that Mlodzinski’s anger regarding his removal from the rotation was justified, but that his public grousing about it wasn’t a great look.
Making himself unavailable to pitch, though, is one big step too far.
During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 the X agreed with that stance.
“I have very mixed emotions looking at it from Mlodzinski’s point of view, because I do feel he was hard done by. I thought he pitched well enough as a starter to stay in the rotation,” Madden said. “That said, who is Carmen Mlodzinski? He should just be glad he’s in the Major Leagues and understand he was probably going to pitch roughly the same amount of innings in this world of bulk relief — and maybe more than Jared Jones lasted (4⅓) as a starter on Friday.”
Mlodzinski posted 26⅔ innings, a 3.38 ERA, three wins, a loss and a no decision in a 2-1 victory over Chicago during the month of May. He has been ping-ponged between starting, long relief and high-leverage short relief throughout his career.
Meanwhile, Jones has potential, but can boast nothing but a 6-8 record, a 4.36 ERA and two trips to the injured list on his MLB resume. Similarly, Bubba Chandler is staying in the rotation with a 1-6 record and a 4.85 ERA.
So, while Madden says Mlodzinski’s complaints are valid, the former No. 31 pick in the 2020 draft doesn’t have the clout to withhold his services from the team.
“While I get his point, I don’t think he’s in any position to do something like that to basically refuse to pitch,” Madden continued. “I understand why he’s mad, I just don’t think he’s in a position to do what he did.”
As far as what Jones did with his first start since Sept. 27, 2024, it wasn’t great. The 24-year-old gave up five earned runs in 4⅓ innings, striking out six, walking two and allowing seven hits, including two home runs.
“I’m not bothered by that. I expected his first start in the majors, the first one back, would be difficult,” Madden said. “I’d just keep throwing them out there. I’m not at all bothered by that.”
Madden was more bothered by how Jones acted during his rehab in Altoona when he got surly at a question about potentially pitching out of the bullpen when he returned to Pittsburgh.
Jared Jones was asked tonight if he'd work out of the bullpen when he returns to the Pirates.
Here's what he had to say ???? pic.twitter.com/9H0JNacW7V
— Riley Holsinger (@HolsingerRiley) May 13, 2026
“What Jones said to the reporter in Altoona, Mlodzinski could look at Jones going right back into the rotation, saying, ‘The squeaky wheel got the grease.’ Then he himself squeaks,” Madden added. “I think he knew that. I think that’s why he reacted like (Jones) did to the reporter.”
Also during the podcast, Madden and I talked about some issues facing Paul Skenes, the Pirates sweeping the Twins, Braxton Ashcraft’s stellar season, Evgeni Malkin’s contract, Ben Roethlisberger’s concerns about Drew Allar, and more.