March 31, 2025
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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Braves
March 3, 2025
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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
August 22, 2024
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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Ari Alexander
August 20, 2024
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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
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