The Cubs and right-handed reliever Hector Neris have agreed on a one-year, $9 million contract that features an possibility for 2025, a supply informed MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. The $9 million crew possibility converts to a participant possibility at 60 video games. The Cubs haven’t confirmed the deal.
Neris loved a profession 12 months in 2023, posting a career-low 1.71 ERA in 71 appearances together with a 1.05 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings. Marked enhancements to his repertoire sparked a significant drop within the high quality of contact hitters made in opposition to him; after rating within the eighth percentile amongst qualifying pitchers with a 44.7 p.c hard-hit price in 2022, he ranked within the 98th percentile in 2023 (28.0 p.c). His four-seamer, which he deployed 51.7 p.c of the time, generated a .153 batting common and .306 slugging proportion (.209/.374 in 2022).
The 34-year-old would make seven appearances within the postseason, though his efficiency didn’t match as much as his common season outcomes. He surrendered six earned runs in 8 1/3 innings of labor within the Astros’ ALDS and ALCS matchups in opposition to the Twins and Rangers, respectively.
Neris spent the primary eight years of his profession with the Phillies, serving because the membership’s nearer from 2017-21, earlier than signing a two-year, $17 million cope with the Astros in Dec. 2021. The deal included an $8.5 million participant possibility for the 2024 season have been Neris to make 60 appearances in each 2022 and ’23 or 110 complete appearances in his first two seasons in Houston. Neris, who made 141 appearances in an Astros uniform, elected to say no the choice.
In 10 Main League seasons, he has a lifetime 3.24 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP and 11.2 Ok/9 price.