Pirates Pitcher Named Surprise Offseason Trade Candidate

The Pittsburgh Pirates are entering a big offseason after a competitive 2026 season that saw them finish the year 82-80.

The Pirates have a few players across the roster who could be traded this offseason, with the front office trying to build out the team. Pittsburgh wants to get back to the playoffs in 2027, and the upcoming offseason could play a massive role in that quest.

One name that could make sense for the Pirates to consider moving is right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski. Mlodzinski started the year in the rotation for Pittsburgh, but he was transitioned to the bullpen once others came back from injury.

MLB analyst Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report mentioned Mlodzinski as a possible offseason trade candidate for Pittsburgh. With how many arms the Pirates have in the rotation for next season, moving off someone like Mlodzinski could make a lot of sense for this team.

With Mlodzinski being arbitration-eligible through the 2029 season, Pittsburgh could try to sell high on his services. There are plenty of teams across the baseball landscape that need pitching help, and this could be a seller's market fully.

This past season, Mlodzinski posted a 3.95 ERA over 37 appearances (12 starts) for the Pirates, firing 123 innings and striking out 97 batters. The right-hander showed that he could embrace whatever role the team asked of him, and this could help out the Pirates if they decide to move him.

Interested teams could use Mlodzinski as either a starter for next season or as a relief option, which gives them flexibility. Organizations are always looking for quality arms that can be interchangeable, giving them an edge when it comes to building out rosters.

Pittsburgh has typically done well in trades for players like Mlodzinski, who is a controllable arm for the next few years. The Pirates have little room for Mlodzinski as a starter, but they could always bring him back as a relief option.

But trading him now makes sense, with the team being able to maximize the strong year that he just put together. Mlodzinski has a lot of talent, and he is jsut 27 years old, which could play into the Pirates' hands in a potential deal.

Pittsburgh's front office has a lot of work to do across the roster this winter, starting with decisions on who will be around long-term. Mlodzinski will be just one of those decisions, and the choices that the team makes could impact how the 2027 season goes for this franchise.