The Astros are signing right-hander Héctor Neris, reports Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 on X. The righty was released by the Cubs earlier this week. Assuming it’s a major league deal, the Astros will need to make corresponding moves to get the righty onto their active and 40-man rosters once the deal is made official.
Neris, 35, returns to an organization that he has had success with. After many successful years with the Phillies, Neris joined the Astros going into 2022. He signed a two-year, $17MM deal with a club option for 2024, though he could vest that into a player option based on the number of appearances he made for the club during the life of the contract.
Over those two years in Houston, Neris got into 141 regular season contests, allowing 2.69 earned runs per nine. He struck out 29.1% of batters faced and gave out walks at a 9% clip. He earned five saves and 56 holds in that time. He also made 15 postseason appearances over those two years, including eight in 2022 with a 1.50 ERA, helping Houston win its second World Series title.
By July of 2023, he had made his 110th regular-season appearance with the club, thus converting the club option into a player option. He eventually decided to turn that down, taking the $1MM buyout and returning to free agency, rather than agreeing to the $8.5MM salary.
He eventually signed with the Cubs for the 2024 season, a one-year, $9MM guarantee. Again, there was a club/player option provision, this time with a $9MM salary on the table for 2025. It would begin as a club option that could become a player option with 60 appearances or 45 games finished in 2024.
His time as a Cub was mixed. He made 46 appearances for them this year with a 3.89 ERA that doesn’t look too bad at first blush. However, his 23.5% strikeout rate and 13.3% walk rate were both significant drop-offs from his previous work. He managed to dance around those free passes a bit with a 76.9% strand rate that’s on the lucky side, perhaps why his 4.09 FIP and 4.36 SIERA were a bit worse than his ERA.
The Cubs decided to set him loose, releasing him earlier this week. That was likely a reflection of his diminished performance but also the Cubs not wanting him to unlock that player option. Since Neris was released and no club grabbed him off waivers, that option is now dead and won’t carry over to any new deal he signs.
Though he hasn’t been as crisp this year, it’s a sensible pickup for the Astros. For one thing, there’s no real financial cost. Because they released him, the Cubs are on the hook for the majority of his 2024 salary that is still to be paid out. The Astros only have to pay him the prorated version of the $740K league minimum salary for any time Neris spends on the roster, with that amount subtracted from what the Cubs pay.
The Astros have also taken a few hits in their bullpen. Kendall Graveman, Penn Murfee, Oliver Ortega and Bennett Sousa are all currently on the 60-day injured list, with each of them undergoing a significant surgery earlier this year. Righty Ryan Pressly also landed on the 15-day IL a few days ago due to a low back strain. There’s nothing to suggest Pressly is slated for a lengthy absence, but it’s another gap in the relief corps until he comes back.
Perhaps a return to a familiar environment can get Neris back on track after some wobbles this year. Even if that doesn’t quite come to pass, it’s a low-cost signing that lengthens the club’s depth for the stretch run and postseason.
Welcome back! Time to rub out whatever started between the ears and go back to basics.
the guy is a 35 year old reliever with an ERA in the mid to high 3’s, I wouldn’t expect too much improvement going forward
I wondered if the Astros might grab Neris. Hope he can rediscover whatever magic he had in Houston last year. He was pretty awful as a Cub, but they needed to use Neris as a main setup arm/closer when Alzolay went down. He will likely be in a better-suited role for HOU.
It just had Astros all over it
I agree, he should resurge being used as a middle relief guy. He was never suited to be the guy to close games out like he was with the Cubs.
No high average tuitions and no hanging the splitter nd he’ll be ok
I’m always worried about certain relievers in high average tuitions!
He could get his AA at community college then transfer to a state school to keep costs down.
Or go to trade school!
Or go to trade rumors school!
Cubs fans way overreacted to this guy, he was put in unfair situations and was only cut because of his contract. Nice pickup for the Astros
“he was put in unfair situations”…..what exactly is an unfair situation for a reliever? RP’s are supposed to come in, in all situation, whether it be to start an inning or with the bases packed. They are being paid to do that job.
Is it easy to come in with 0 to 2 outs and the bases full? No. Is it unfair? Hardly, it’s their job.
It’s unfair to put a middle tier reliever in the highest leverage spots. Common sense dude, try using your brain before commenting
TW
How is it “unfair”?
Maybe read my comment?
He was a closer with the Phillies.
Lol yeah he was the Phillies close 5 years ago in 2019….. he’s 35 years old…. He’s a middle reliever…. And a solid one. It’s unfair to ask middle relievers to be your single most important high leverage reliever. Bunch of casuals in these comments sections
TW
I did. It didn’t say anything
Maybe YOU should read it
“ It’s unfair to put a middle tier reliever in the highest leverage spots”. That’s my previous comment, clear as day. Are you blind or just can’t read English?
TW
I can read English
You said it was unfair
I asked HOW it was unfair
You didn’t answer.
HOW is it unfair?
Awwwww….so sorry I upset you. Try unclenching….you will feel better.
Scare-us Neris has a history of crumbling no matter where he is placed and any relief pitcher that cannot handle being placed in various positions should not be a RP. That is called reality.
Have a nice day and try not to hurt yourself while twisting and turning in despair.
Oh….and try acting a bit more like an adult when asked a question instead of firing off “try using your brain before commenting”. You really don’t want to get into an insult battle…trust me.
Dodgers bro you clearly cannot read. I literally just included my exact comment on why it was unfair, in quotes. You can’t read or understand that simple sentence?
LOL good try man, yeah I’m so upset about Hector Neris signing, totally spot on! You are clearly a casual who knows next to nothing about how baseball works. Neris has value as a middle reliever, and good teams do not ask mid tier relievers to perform in high leverage situation. You know, because that’s what high leverage relievers are for? Again you really might wanna try using your brain (you either aren’t or it just doesn’t work properly) because this is really simple stuff for anyone who knows the first thing about baseball. You’re the one who responded to me in the first place with an absurd, unintelligent comment lol
“Neris has a history of crumbling” dude you clearly haven’t followed baseball and can’t even look at someone stat pages? The utmost casual type of fan lol so cringe. Neris has had countless good seasons, including as recently as last year with Houston. You simply have no idea what you’re talking about
Oh little one…I have followed baseball since the year Dick Allen (called Richie at that time by the media) was RoY and I watched Nerris tie the all time Phillies record for blown saves in a few short years….so yes he crumbles….now I will politely say…..shove it.
For not caring you sure are acting like a petulant child….defensive and ranting against everyone. Go cry to mommy….I am done interacting with you. Any other replies with be ignored as like if too short to suffer clodpolls.
Have a wonderful day.
Lol the casual clowns always bail when they realize they have absolute no idea what they’re talking about. So funny. See ya later casual, maybe try learning baseball before commenting again
I don’t understand your particular brand of crazy but I do admire your total commitment to it.
If you were half as smart as you think you are, you’d be twice as smart as you really are.
muted….bye bye
TW
Try using your brain
Because I have some people muted I can’t see all the replies. So, unless you replied directly to me I probably didn’t see it
Anyway, based off of your username and comments here I don’t think I’ll miss reading your comments.
Muted
Lol turns out no response actually meant you’d respond immediately. Classic troll. You’re simply a casual who does not understand baseball. Go do some research or maybe go watch your first baseball game, you might learn something. You can’t even grasp the simple concept of not using middle relievers in high leverage spots. Amazing. Well amazingly dumb on your part
Muting other people won’t mute my replies…. And I even responded to you with a quote of my previous comment. You simply chose not to read or comprehend it multiple times and had to resort to muting me lol I’m dead
It’s unfair to put a middle tier reliever in the highest leverage spots.
Lololol unfair… Are we in the playground in elementary… Grown man talking about what’s fair…
Based on these comments Travis’ Wood, you don’t understand life… Or baseball
Yes that is unfair. Hence why no teams put their middle tier relievers in a high leverage spot. Assuming you’re a guards fan, you want the next super high leverage spot to go to Clase or Scott Barlow? Sounds like you’re the one who doesn’t understand baseball…. At all. Maybe try watching a game for once? Considering all 30 teams agree with me maybe you should try again? You’re so clearly another casual lol
Fair is playground talk
Also, yes, I want Clase in my next high leverage spot… I watch a lot of baseball, if you actually did, you’d want him too.
You actually never answered dodgersbro (I’m the one he’s muted btw), your quotes never explained why it’s unfair to put him in those situations… And I was sorta looking for why it was unfair as well… You keep saying crap is unfair and never providing justification for it… That’s unfair to us lololol
So you’re just admitting you can’t read? I explained It and quoted it multiple times you low iq clown…. Stop trolling dude it’s pretty laughable.
Interesting you want Clase in the next high leverage spot and not a middle tier reliever like barlow…. Very interesting…. LOL
You didn’t explain it at all… You just said it wasn’t fair but you didn’t explain why it wasn’t fair you just said the same thing over and over which isn’t an explanation or justification at all. The irony of you calling someone a low IQ clown… You should change you name to Travis’ brain cause you’re lacking one
Would it be unfair to use Barlow in a high leverage spot??? Who does Scott Barlow file his fairness complaint with if he is used in that spot??? Seriously, I want answers
Cat Mando, highly suggest you unmute him… You’re really missing out
These low IQ comments are actually hilarious, and you keep doubling down which is the funniest part. Is there a reason you want to broadcast that you’re a clueless casual? It’s unfair to expect a middle tier reliever to perform the same as a high leverage one…. Neris was pitching in the highest leverage roles with the cubs, a role he obviously isn’t suited for. Just as it would be unfair to expect Scott Barlow to produce anything better than a 4 ERA as a closer…. He’d be run out of town if he was in that role but as a 4-5th best reliever he’s perfectly fine. Same reason you wouldn’t take your 4th outfielder and bat him 2nd on a daily basis…. It’s not his role and it’s unfair to expect top quality production from mid tier players. Does not make them worthless. Hopefully you will be able to understand this incredibly simple concept after it’s been explained for about the 5th time. Or you wanna triple down on your stupidity? I’m having a blast reading these moronic replies lol keep them coming you casual! Or even better maybe go watch a baseball game, something you’ve clearly never done before in your life. Lol
“You didn’t explain it at all” he says after I’ve explained an incredibly simple concept 3 times. Is there a reason you continue to broadcast your stupidity? Certainly not a strategy I’d take if I was stuck in a brain like yours lol
Lol seriously Cat Mando, unmute.
Lol he doesn’t care dude, he already realized how wrong he was. You’re the only one still hanging on to this bizarre stance of not understanding very simple baseball concepts…. You gave me a good laugh though at your commitment to your ignorance. Hopefully that 5th time of explaining it finally nailed it down for you!
Lol
What a shock these pigs keep buying back ex players that they lost fair and square and pathetically trying to recreate their cheating magic from years past.
Neris wasn’t with the Astros in 2017, and there was no cheating in 2022.
Yeah, Hector Neris was making Phillies’ fans anxious in 2017.
His main problem in Chicago was that he was unable to throw a strike. Not sure how that’s gonna play out somewhere else but hey, Good luck with dat!
Get off your cheating horse. OLD NEWS. Neris was great for us last season. We never should have let him walk. But Crane did. We can use him in bullpen. We won WS in 2022 with him. FAIRLY. We need someone that can shut teams down in 7th or 8th and not have to always use Abreu or Pressly. Maybe Pressly can get saves when returns. Take Pressure off Hader at times. We have bullpen pieces like Seth that need to go back down. 40 man roster spot not sure where change will come there. If take someone off and make only AAA . Nice pick up
MickeyTheMod MUTED for being an idiot loser troll.
Everybody needs to mute that jerk!
Mickey Solis…
What a Sad, Sorry life you waste!!
Why didn’t they just claim him off waivers?
$$$$$
They only pay a prorated amount of the league minimum, not his full remaining salary. Cubs are on the hook for the rest
Isn’t it like that if he’s claimed? No matter what he was getting the league minimum.
No, if they claimed him, they would have to pay the prorated $6M he signed for or whatever. Since he cleared, they just pay him the prorated minimum and the Cubs are on the hook for his original salary.
They didn’t want the CHC contract. The team would take on his full remaining salary and vesting option if he was claimed on release waivers.
I suspect CHC made a mistake trying to use him as a closer and he will partially rediscover some of his previous success in HOU. At least it will provide entertainment? to see him again BB/HBP the bases loaded and somehow ninja out of the situation in the 6-7th innings.
Gotcha. He was signed to be the setup man. When Adbert Alzolay went down he assumed the closer role. He was atrocious but he literally gave himself the moniker “Heart Attack Hector” personally I liked “Cardiac Hector” which is what I called him. It fit better imo.
Ha, there’s also the moniker of Sacre Us Neris that he earned from his time in PHI
Invaluable pickup from a moral standpoint, Neris was as big of a voice as Brantley and Maldy were in the clubhouse. The beautiful thing here is he will be an innings eater, and unless there is a rash of injuries, will never see a closing situation. Dude is a dawg, and we are stoked to have him back. Bois salty.
I’m not sure “innings eater” is the right term. That’s reserved for back end starters who can go 6 any given night without totally getting destroyed.
I think what you’re trying to say is that he’ll come in as a middle reliever and pitch effectively and not have to worry about being used in high leverage situations, which yes, that is true.
No, I’m quite sure of what I wrote, innings eater. We have three backend guys (one is currently hurt) that have defined roles generally of one inning each. He will be a middle reliever, that can throw more than two games in a row and not have his arm fall off. On this team, that is an innings eater.
No, it’s not. On any team, that is still not the proper definition of an “innings eater.” You’re making up your own definition, which is fine when clarified, but you’re incorrect. You can Google it and you’ll get the same result over and over, but I’ll just link BaseballAlmanac via a quote from Baseball America. What you defined is simply a high-caliber middle reliever.
baseball-almanac.com/dictionary-term.php?term=inni….
Nice sign boston could have used him
Problem is, even with the improvements we’ve seen this year, a player needs to *want* to play there. Many simply don’t.
Can’t say I understand why. But they have made head-scratching moves before when they saw something in someone. So may as well, right?
Because he was really good for them as recently as 2023?
And it’s not 2023 anymore?
He’s an immature overweight baby who taunts players for no reason when he’s the one who should be taunted
ok lol
Once a scumbag Astros always a scumbag Astro. Why do these players bother leaving when they know they can’t cut it without their daddy?
Your comments are becoming progressively more pathetic.
Not a great time with the Cubs, but maybe going back to the Astros is what he needs to get back on track.
Is player option still in play if he plays 60gm betw the 2 tms? Or is it only apply to 1st tm, cubs?
Neris was terrific w houston not sure why they didnt resign
That option only applies with the Cubs. Steve covered it in the chat. That option is now null and void. He’ll be a FA in 2025.
Said it once … say it again for hometown Cubs…. somewhere…. Grandpa Rossy grins…
The Cubs are a mess, Ross was probably lucky to be let go. He’s making good $$ this year and should be back in uniform as a bench or 3b coach in ’25.
Here’s the issue – he will be fine as long as he’s not used as a closer. The Cubs signed him to be a set-up man, but it seems like when injuries forced them to use him in the 9th inning, he just didn’t perform as well. Look, not everyone is cut out for the pressures of the 9th inning. I know that sabermetric people will say it’s all the same, just like there is no “clutch” But I believe there is something different about pitching in a save situation and Hector just isn’t cut put for the role.
You are right, and with Pressly and Hader on the list he is never going to be asked to close.
Oh great…
This jerk is back in Houston.
Back in January I recall how he was looking for a $50 million dollar contract over 3 years (lol)
Watch he’ll instantly be a top reliever in the league again. The Astros pitching analytics is 10 years ahead of any other team.
They sure didn’t wait very long!
Yo, Mr. Crane! Thank you!
but Ben Gamel too??
And then Gamel gets an RBI knock in second AB as an Astro. Whoduhthunkit? Ok
What’s the sayin’? Oh right. Thanks Cubs!