After three solid seasons in Pittsburgh, Jones was traded to the White Sox for Dave LaPoint in August 1988 and was effective the rest of the season as Bobby Thigpen‘s set-up man. He slumped in 1989, but rebounded to an 11-4, 2.31 campaign in 1990 as Thigpen set a major-league record with 57 saves.
After his career season, Jones was sent to Montreal with Ivan Calderon in a deal for Tim Raines. The Expos hoped to use Jones as their top fireman, but the veteran reliever demurred; although he set career highs with 13 saves and a league-leading 77 appearances, he was uncomfortable and unreliable in the closer’s role. After the season he was shipped to Philadelphia for catching prospect Darrin Fletcher.
1992 was a disastrous season for Jones, who posted an uncharacteristically high 4.34 ERA with the Phils and was released in early August after refusing a demotion to Triple-A. He signed with the Mets, managed by his former White Sox skipper Jeff Torborg, but was bombed in his seventeen outings with the club. He retired after a brief comeback attempt with the Sox in ’93.
