Jared Jones return finally pushed Pirates to make overdue roster decision

Jared Jones' return to the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation was always going to create a roster crunch. When it became official on Friday, Pittsburgh finally made the move it probably should have made weeks ago.

Jared Jones return finally pushed Pirates to make overdue roster decision. Jared Jones' return to the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation was always going to create a roster crunch. When it became official on Friday, Pittsburgh finally made the move it probably should have made weeks ago. The Pirates designated reliever Justin Lawrence for assignment to clear both an active roster spot and a 40-man roster spot for Jones, who is set to make his long-awaited return from the injured list Friday night against the Minnesota Twins. While Jones' comeback is understandably the headline, Lawrence's departure feels like the bigger organizational acknowledgment. The Pirates simply could not keep waiting for the version of Lawrence that showed up briefly in 2025. When Pittsburgh claimed Lawrence off waivers from the Colorado Rockies before last season, it in...