Struggling Pirates Veteran Gets Candid About New Role On Pitching Staff

The Pittsburgh Pirates have shaken up their pitching staff over the last few days in response to their recent struggles and the new personnel they acquired at the MLB Trade Deadline.

One player whose role has changed is Andrew Heaney, who was shifted from the starting rotation to the bullpen on Saturday.

Heaney has struggled this season, going 5-10 with a 4.99 ERA and a 5.52 FIP in his first year with the Pirates. He hasn’t shown signs of turning things around, either, going 2-5 with an 8.19 ERA and a 7.56 FIP over his last 10 appearances (nine starts).

Heaney was originally scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs, but Carmen Miodzinski (2-7, 4.20 ERA) will now start instead.

The 34-year-old lefty — who’s started 208 of his 227 career Major League appearances — got candid while discussing the change on Saturday.

We spoke briefly with Andrew Heaney after today's game about his move from the rotation to the bullpen. Here were his two quotes on the situation: pic.twitter.com/glaVFXwVr2

— Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) August 16, 2025

“I haven’t been pitching well, and we got some young guys that have and they deserve opportunities,” Heaney said via Noah Hiles of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I’ve been in the game long enough to know that you get opportunities that you earn, and I haven’t earned it.”

Heaney’s in his 12th MLB season, so he knows how competitive the league is and how precious playing time is. There are only so many innings to go around, especially on a young team like Pittsburgh that’s trying to evaluate players for 2026 and beyond.

Given Heaney’s age, performance and contract situation (he’ll be a free agent this winter), the Pirates think he makes more sense in the bullpen at this stage of the season, likely as a long reliever.

To his credit, the veteran southpaw took the news in stride and is willing to do whatever’s best for the team.

“I think I’m gonna be (in the bullpen) for some bulk innings…I’ll come in and do what I’m asked to do,” Heaney said. “I’m just going to go be down there and part of the group. When the phone rings, if it’s my name, then I’ll go get warm and go get in the game.”

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