Mark Madden: Why would any player trust the Pirates?

Andrew Heaney was abruptly removed from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching rotation and sent to the bullpen. He had pitched 119 innings, one inning shy of a $50,000 bonus.

It reeks of last season, when Rowdy Tellez got released four plate appearances short of a $200,000 bonus.

But here’s the difference: The Pirates will let Heaney reach that $50,000 bonus, seeming almost magnanimous. He pitched two-thirds of an inning Sunday in a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs, putting him at 119²⁄₃.

But Heaney also has:

• A $100,000 bonus for 130 innings.

• A $150,000 bonus for 140, 150, 160 and 170 innings, according to Spotrac.

Heaney won’t get to 130 innings. No chance.

But by allowing him to get to 120 innings, the Pirates make it appear like Heaney’s demotion was purely a baseball decision. The stooge media will validate.

The stooge media and the true believers among the fan base — how can there possibly be any of those left? — cite Heaney’s recent struggles as legit reason for being dropped from the rotation. His ERA in July and August is 7.96. That’s over seven starts.

But Mitch Keller’s ERA over his last four starts is 8.63.

If the Pirates benched everybody who stinks, they would have a tough time finding nine bodies to put out there.

Keller isn’t in contention for any bonuses. So he keeps pitching.

Mike Burrows allowed 10 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings to start August. But he started again five days later. (And pitched well: one earned run in five innings.)

Burrows is unencumbered by any bonuses he’d never get a chance to earn.

We’re told that not pitching Heaney lets the Pirates learn more about their young arms.

Who, Bubba Chandler? He might retire — or die of old age — before he’s promoted from Triple-A. (I’m sure there’s a good reason. Cue the media stooges.)

The Pirates make every decision based on money. No matter how trifling the sum by typical MLB franchise standards.

The Pirates shouldn’t be covered like a baseball team.

The Pirates should be covered like an ongoing criminal investigation. In adversarial fashion.

The Pirates cheat the public and their players.

Too many play along with the con.

Why would any player trust the Pirates? After Tellez and now Heaney, why would any free agent with any other option sign with the Pirates?

That’s easily answered: They don’t.

You think Tommy Pham had anyplace else to go? (Heaney didn’t, either.)

If Heaney stayed in the rotation, he’d likely top 150 innings. His bonuses would total $450,000. Saving money like that is hog heaven for the hillbilly thief.