Héctor Neris Fantasy Stats

Free-agent right-handed reliever Hector Neris signed a minor-league deal with the Kansas City Royals on Monday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal includes an invitation to MLB spring training. Neris, a 36-year-old veteran, will be going into his 13th big-league campaign in 2026. The Dominican native spent the 2025 season with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and Houston Astros, posting an elevated 6.75 ERA (5.35 FIP) with a 1.69 WHIP, 35 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 26 2/3 relief innings. He did not have a single save, but he does have plenty of closing experience with 107 career saves with five different teams. For his career, Neris has a 3.47 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 29.4% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate. He'll be battling for an MLB roster spot in spring training and could start the year at Triple-A Omaha if he remains in the organization.

Veteran right-handed reliever Hector Neris has agreed to a Major League contract with the Houston Astros, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 reports. Neris became available when the Los Angeles Angels released him on Thursday. He has posted a horrific 7.80 ERA with 20 strikeouts, eight walks, and seven holds over a combined 15 innings between the Angels and Braves this season. The well-traveled 36-year-old is now ready for his third stint in Houston, where he pitched from 2022-23 and again in 2024. Neris has served as a solid high-leverage option for a large portion of his career, but those days may be over.

Free-agent right-handed reliever Hector Neris signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. Neris began the season in the Atlanta Braves' bullpen but allowed five earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out one in just an inning of work before he was designated for assignment. The 35-year-old veteran chose free agency after clearing waivers and has now latched on with the Halos. For the time being, he'll most likely report to Triple-A Salt Lake and serve as minor-league relief depth for the Angels. Neris saw a drop in his strikeout rate and swinging-strike rate last year with the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros despite winning 10 games and recording 18 total saves. He has 107 career saves over 12 big-league seasons, but his days as a high-leverage reliever are likely over.

The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they selected the contract of right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez from Triple-A Gwinnett to the major-league roster and designated right-handed reliever Hector Neris for assignment in a corresponding move. The 41-year-old Chavez will give the Braves a new bullpen arm after Neris had a disastrous two relief outings in San Diego over the weekend by allowing five earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out one in just one inning of work. This will be Chavez's fourth different stint with the organization. In 46 appearances out of the Braves' bullpen last year, Chavez was solid with a 3.13 ERA (4.43 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 19 walks in 63 1/3 innings pitched. In a likely middle-relief role, Chavez will have very little fantasy appeal.

The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent right-hander Hector Neris to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes a non-roster invite to big-league spring training. Neris will join the Braves and look to compete for a spot in their Opening Day bullpen, probably as more of a middle-relief option. The 35-year-old veteran does have 107 career saves in 11 MLB seasons over his career, including 18 last year with the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros, but as long as Raisel Iglesias is healthy for the Braves, Neris probably won't see any save chances at all in Atlanta. Despite saving 18 games in 2024, Neris held a 4.10 ERA (4.28 FIP), 1.39 WHIP, 64 strikeouts and 28 walks in 59 1/3 innings. His 12.3% swinging-strike rate and 24.6% strikeout rate were his lowest marks since 2015. Don't expect Neris to be much of a late-inning option for the Braves if he makes the team.

The Houston Astros signed free-agent right-handed reliever Hector Neris on Thursday, according to a source. Neris returns to the Astros after recently being designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs and then released. Despite leading the Cubs with 17 saves this year, Neris was a shaky closing option for them and posted a 3.89 ERA (4.09 FIP) and 1.52 WHIP with a career-high 13.3% walk rate in 44 innings out of the bullpen. The 35-year-old veteran will now reunite with the first-place Astros after pitching for them in 2022 and 2023, when he had a 12-7 record, 2.69 ERA, five saves, a 1.03 WHIP and a 156:48 K:BB in 133 2/3 innings. By the end of the year and for a potential playoff run, Neris should be working in a late-inning setup role in Houston, but don't expect many saves, if any at all, the rest of the way.

The Chicago Cubs released reliever Hector Neris on Tuesday after he was designated for assignment and cleared waivers, according to sources. Pitcher Jack Neely, who was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade, is being called up from the minors to take Neris' spot on the roster. With the move, the Cubs will eat the rest of Neris' $9 million salary. The 35-year-old actually led the Cubs with 17 saves this year, but he also had five blown saves, a 3.89 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP with 46 strikeouts and 26 walks in 44 innings out of the bullpen. With Neris now out of the picture in Chicago for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, it's likely that Jorge Lopez will serve as the team's primary closer. Lopez picked up his first save with Chicago on Saturday and had a career-high 23 saves with Baltimore and Minnesota back in 2022. Pick him up if you're desperate for saves.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Hector Neris tallied his 11th save of the campaign on Saturday. The 35-year-old was able to work around a few base runners to toss his third straight shutout inning. Rhys Hoskins hit a lead-off single on a line drive to left field. Neris then got his first out off a Sal Frelick ground ball but then proceeded to walk Jake Bauers. With two runners on, Neris was able to tally two consecutive strikeouts to seal the victory. It has been a rough season for the veteran reliever, but he has recently begun to turn things around. He is still worth holding onto in deeper leagues, as he should remain a top candidate for saves in Chicago even if he continues to struggle.

Chicago Cubs closer Hector Neris slammed the door on the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, pitching a perfect ninth inning to pick up his ninth save. Neris struck out a pair of Reds and didn't allow a baserunner in this one. Although he's given up his share of baserunners, the 34-year-old has been able to avoid damage for most of the season and has earned saves in 9 of his 11 opportunities. He has also picked up six wins, which may not be sustainable but is nonetheless a huge boon for his fantasy owners. He should maintain his role as the Cubs closer for the foreseeable future.

Chicago Cubs closer Hector Neris picked up his eighth save of the season in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the White Sox. Neris came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He got the first out on a line-out, walked a batter, allowed a stolen base but then picked the runner off, and ended the game with a pop-out. The 34-year-old veteran did not enter the season as the team's closer but has converted all but two opportunities with a 2.86 ERA, a 7.36 K/9 rate, and a 6.55 BB/9 rate. Neris is worth rostering in all roto leagues at least given his current role, but his strikeouts have taken a dip and his walks have spiked. Fantasy managers should be wary of these trends potentially hurting him at some point, but he is a useful fantasy option for now.