Jones' agent, Joe Speed of Sterling Sports Management, announced Thursday via his personal Twitter account that his client is retiring from baseball.
After beginning his professional career in 2007 as a fifth-round pick of the White Sox, Jones reached the majors for the first time in 2012 and proceeded to spend parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues. Between stops with the White Sox, Reds, Braves and Dodgers, Jones made all 325 of his career appearances out of the bullpen, logging a 3.45 ERA to go with 78 holds and nine saves. His effectiveness had waned in recent years while he battled a slew of injuries, and after receiving his release from the Dodgers in June and garnering limited interest on the open market, Jones elected to call it quits.
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Nate Jones: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Jones declined an assignment to the minor leagues and is now a free agent, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
The Dodgers outrighted Jones to their Triple-A club after he cleared waivers Saturday, but the veteran reliever exercised his option to decline the assignment and opted instead for free agency. The right-hander posted a 5.68 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 14:12 K:BB in 19 innings with the Dodgers this season after registering a 6.27 ERA with Cincinnati last year, but his more palatable career numbers -- including a 3.45 ERA and 9.7 K/9 -- could inspire another organization to give him a big-league opportunity.
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Dodgers' Nate Jones: Clears waivers
Rotowire
The Dodgers outrighted Jones to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday.
Jones will remain in the Dodgers organization after he went unclaimed off waivers when he was designated for assignment Wednesday. Before losing his spot on the 40-man roster, Jones appeared in eight games for the Dodgers and gave up nine runs (eight earned) in 8.2 innings.
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Dodgers' Nate Jones: Cast off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Jones was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Jones joined the Dodgers' bullpen in mid-May, and he was somewhat inconsistent across the last few weeks. He struggled in his last two appearances and gave up six runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three in 1.2 innings. The right-hander will now be removed from the 40-man roster to make room for outfielder Steven Souza, whose contract was selected in a corresponding move.
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Dodgers' Nate Jones: Impressive in Dodgers debut
Rotowire
Jones earned a hold against the Giants on Friday, pitching a perfect 1.2 innings and collecting two strikeouts.
The right-hander made his Dodgers debut after being let go by Atlanta on May 10. He provided some help for a short-handed bullpen and looked great in the process, protecting a one-run lead. Jones has four holds overall this season and could work his way into a permanent spot among Los Angeles' relief corps if he's able to consistently pitch as effectively as he did Friday.
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Dodgers' Nate Jones: Contract selected by Dodgers
Rotowire
Jones' contract was selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Friday's game against the Giants.
The 35-year-old righty has eight strikeouts in four innings at Triple-A this season, split across stops with Atlanta and Los Angeles. The Dodgers will go with an extra reliever for now, with Luke Raley getting optioned in a corresponding move.
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Dodgers' Nate Jones: Joins Dodgers on minors deal
Rotowire
Jones joined the Dodgers on a minor-league deal Friday and was assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Jones threw 10.1 innings for Atlanta this this season, and while he only allowed four earned runs, his 7:10 K:BB was poor enough to lead to his release. Coming off a season in which he struggled to a 6.27 ERA, there's little reason to be confident the 35-year-old will make much of an impact in Los Angeles this season.
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Nate Jones: Let go by Atlanta
Rotowire
Jones was released by Atlanta on Monday.
Jones' 3.48 ERA through 10.1 innings this season is far from terrible, but the rest of his numbers aren't anything close to good. He struck out just 14.0 percent of opposing batters while walking 20.0 percent and generating a very low 28.1 percent groundball rate. Those numbers may leave him stuck looking for a minor-league deal.
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Braves' Nate Jones: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Jones was designated for assignment by Atlanta on Friday.
The 35-year-old was optioned to the alternate training site at the start of the week and has now been removed from the 40-man roster after allowing four runs on eight hits with a 7:10 K:BB through his first 10.1 innings of the season. Jones could remain in the organization and head to Triple-A Gwinnett if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
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Braves' Nate Jones: Optioned off roster
Rotowire
Jones was optioned to Atlanta's alternate training site Monday.
Jones owns a perfectly respectable 3.48 ERA through 10.1 innings this season, but he hasn't gotten there in a remotely sustainable way. His 14.0 percent strikeout rate, 20.0 percent walk rate and 28.1 percent groundball rate are all very poor. He may need some good outings in the minors before he earns another big-league opportunity.
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Braves' Nate Jones: Takes loss in extras
Rotowire
Jones (0-2) allowed one run (zero earned) on one hit and two walks across two-thirds of an inning to take the loss against the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Jones' stats looked worse than they actually were Saturday, considering both of his walks were intentional. However, when he needed to record the final out with bases loaded, Randal Grichuk walked it off with a single. The 35-year-old has more walks (10) than strikeouts (7).
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Braves' Nate Jones: Shaky start to season
Rotowire
Jones came on to get the final out of the sixth inning during the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks.
With Atlanta in a 7-0 hole and Arizona threatening to tack on more runs, Jones got Asdrubal Cabrera to pop out. The veteran right-hander has a 2.35 ERA through 7.2 innings this season, but his 1.43 WHIP and 6:6 K:BB suggest he's been very lucky, and his current low-leverage role limits his fantasy value.
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Braves' Nate Jones: Contract selected by Atlanta
Rotowire
Jones' contract was selected by Atlanta on Saturday.
Jones was expected to make Atlanta's Opening Day roster after tossing 6.1 scoreless innings this spring, and he was officially added to the 40-man roster Saturday. He should begin the season as a middle reliever.
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Braves' Nate Jones: Set to make Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Jones is expected to make Atlanta's Opening Day roster, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The 35-year-old joined the Braves on a minor-league deal in February and performed well in spring training with 6.1 scoreless frames. Jones should open the season in middle relief for Atlanta.
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Braves' Nate Jones: Signs MiLB deal with Atlanta
Rotowire
Jones signed a minor-league deal with the Braves on Tuesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The 35-year-old struggled in 21 appearances for the Reds in 2020 with a 6.27 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB over 18.2 innings. Jones had a 3.12 ERA over the prior eight seasons for the White Sox, but he was limited to only 52 innings from 2017-19 due multiple arm injuries. The right-hander could be a solid bullpen piece if he's able to rediscover his form and stay healthy.
The veteran right-hander was designated for assignment earlier in the week and will now hit free agency. Jones had a 6.27 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB with four holds over 18.2 innings before getting DFA'd.
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Reds' Nate Jones: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Jones was designated for assignment by the Reds on Tuesday.
Jones makes way for Sonny Gray, who returns from a back injury to start against the Brewers. Jones threw 18.2 innings for the Reds this season, struggling to a 6.27 ERA and 1.66 WHIP while allowing five homers, though his 23:6 K:BB wasn't bad at all.
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Reds' Nate Jones: Reinstated Thursday
Rotowire
Jones was reinstated from the paternity list prior to Thursday's game against the Cubs.
Jones has a 5.93 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 13.2 innings this season. He should pitch in low-to-mid leverage situations going forward.
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Reds' Nate Jones: Lands on paternity list
Rotowire
Jones was placed on the paternity list Tuesday.
Players typically spend three days on the paternity list, though pandemic-related complications could lead to some logistical delays when he returns to the team. Jose De Leon was called up in a corresponding move.
