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 initially looked like a savvy move. He posted a microscopic 0.51 ERA in 17 appearances and flashed the electric stuff that once made him an All-Star caliber reliever. Even with shaky command, his upper-90s velocity, swing-and-miss ability and ground-ball profile made him an intriguing bullpen weapon.

But the 2026 version never resembled that pitcher. In 22 innings this season, Lawrence posted a 5.32 ERA while allowing four home runs and continuing to battle the command issues that have followed him throughout his career. His 11.3% walk rate remained problematic, and his strikeout numbers dropped significantly from where they were a year ago.

The problem for the Pirates is that they are no longer in a position where they can afford to be patient with Lawrence. Potential can only buy so much time. This is a team that is trying to climb back into contention, which means every roster spot and every bullpen inning matters. At some point, production has to outweigh projection.

Pirates finally DFA Justin Lawrence to clear roster space for Jared Jones

Maybe another team gives Lawrence a shot and claims him off waivers. If he clears, he can elect free agency, but it's more likely that he would accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis for the remainder of his contract.

The timing made the decision unavoidable. Jones was returning, and somebody had to go. But it also feels overdue.

The Pirates spent much of the season hoping Lawrence would rediscover the form he showed in 2025. Instead, inconsistency continued to define his year, and it cost Pittsburgh games in the process. Meanwhile, younger arms continue pushing for opportunities and Pittsburgh's bullpen has needed more reliability.

Jones' activation may have forced the transaction, but Lawrence's performance made it inevitable. The Pirates finally stopped waiting for what could happen and made a decision based on what actually has happened.

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