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.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Hector Neris earned his sixth save of the season in a 6-5 win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon. Neris gave up two hits and an earned run with a walk and a strikeout to notch the save in the ninth inning. Neris has taken over the closer role for the ineffective Adbert Alzolay. Despite some shaky peripherals, including a 20.8 walk rate and an xERA of 7.15, Neris continues to get the job done for the Cubs. He should remain in the role for the foreseeable future.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Hector Neris notched his third save on Thursday, slamming the door on the Houston Astros in a 3-1 win. Neris was a little shaky in his inning of work, walking a pair before getting out of it. Since manager Craig Counsell said that Adbert Alzolay was being taken out of the closer role last weekend, Neris has converted on all three of his save opportunities and apparently taken that role over. He should be added in most leagues where saves are important.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Hector Neris got the call in Wednesday's save situation against the visiting Houston Astros, allowing a run but holding on to safeguard the 3-2 win. After Neris relieved setup man Mark Leiter Jr., Jose Altuve greeted him with a solo home run to immediately get the tying run to the plate with no outs and Houston's big bats coming up. Despite the long ball, Neris settled in to retire stars Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, and Yordan Alvarez in order. While Yency Almonte scooped up a save in Wednesday's five-run victory over Houston, Neris' usage suggests he's manager Craig Counsell's current preferred ninth-inning man after the skipper removed Adbert Alzolay from the role following Saturday's blown save. Although the 34-year-old veteran right-hander has a shaky 4.50 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, and 8:7 K:BB over eight innings this year, he needs to be rostered in more than 42% of Yahoo leagues.
Free-agent right-handed reliever Hector Neris and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a one-year, $9 million contract that includes an option for the 2025 season, according to a source familiar with the deal. The $9 million team option converts to a player option at 60 games. The total maximum value of the deal with incentives is $23.25 million. The 34-year-old gives the Cubs another high-leverage, late-inning option alongside Adbert Alzolay, and Neris could also see some save chances, making him plenty valuable in mixed fantasy leagues in 2024. He's coming off the best season of his career in 2023 with the Houston Astros, going 6-3 with a 1.71 ERA (1.05 FIP), two saves, 31 walks and 77 strikeouts in 68 1/3 relief innings pitched. Neris tied for the league lead with 31 holds and will at least be very popular in those formats yet again.
The New York Mets have expressed interest in free-agent relievers Aroldis Chapman and Hector Neris this offseason, according to league sources. Neris might be a better fit for the New York Yankees, but his asking price of one or two years at $7-11 million per year would fit the Mets' budget. The Mets have also spoken to left-hander Wandy Peralta as they look to upgrade their bullpen. Chapman seems more likely to find a better fit elsewhere, and Adam Ottavino, who declined a $6.75 million option for 2024, is a possibility to return to the Mets on a new deal. Edwin Diaz, who missed all of 2023 due to a knee injury, is returning as the club's primary closer this year, so any relief pitcher that the Mets sign between now and the start of the regular season will operate in more of a late-inning setup role out of the bullpen.
Héctor Neris
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Astros
