Let’s be honest: the Pittsburgh Pirates need a closer. Not a “committee," not a “matchup-based ninth-inning approach," not another bargain-bin reliever who gets lit up by the Cincinnati Reds in June –– but a real closer.
And before Bob Nutting inevitably points to the price tags on the open market and says, “Wow, that’s a lot of money for three outs,” the Pirates have an option sitting right in front of them: Jared Jones — the electric, max-effort fireballer who might actually be better in the ninth inning than he ever will be in the rotation.