Veteran reliever Hector Neris has elected to become a free agent rather than accept an outright assignment to the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate, as per the team. Houston designated Neris for assignment earlier this week, and after he cleared waivers and was outrighted off the 40-man roster, Neris’ nine-plus years of MLB service time allowed him the right to opt for free agency rather than remain in the Astros’ organization.
There wasn’t much surprise in Neris’ decision, and the 36-year-old will now seek out another new landing spot in what has been a nomadic season for the right-hander. Neris has already suited up with the Astros, Angels, and Braves in 2025, signing a guaranteed deal with Houston in July following minor league contracts with Los Angeles and Atlanta. Neris also opted into free agency after being outrighted off the Braves’ roster in early April, and after another DFA in late June, the Angels just released Neris rather than go through the motions of an outright.
A 6.75 ERA over 26 2/3 combined innings in 2025 underlines why Neris has had trouble sticking on a roster. On the plus side, Neris has a strong 28.2% strikeout rate, and his 3.85 SIERA reflects how some bad luck (.348 BABIP, 55.9% strand rate) has inflated his real-world ERA. However, Neris hasn’t helped his cause by allowing six homers within his small sample size of work, and his 12.9% walk rate is the highest of his 12-year Major League career.
Despite these numbers and a shaky 2024 season with the Cubs and Astros, Neris has enough of a career track record that he’ll surely catch on somewhere, likely on another minors contract. Teams in need of bullpen help may well focus more on the strikeout rate than Neris’ control issues, and hope that a change of scenery can help him finally get his wayward year on track. Signing with a new team before September 1 would also make Neris eligible for postseason play, though naturally he’ll need to perform a lot better than he has in order to receive consideration for a playoff roster.
He has almost exactly 10 years of service time
He got to the 10-year mark on August 11th and Houston DFA’ed him on the 12th.
Soon to be a NY Met.
Why not, everyone else has pitched there.
True! And the Mets and Phillies like to pick up each team’s has beens.
Scott Harris would like a word.
Hopefully he can find it again to be a reliable arm like he was for the Phillies. Guys like Rich Hill and Kirby Yates found it again at 36. At one point he had closer written all over him
A complete jerk who screams at opposing team’s players.
Perfect for the Yankees.
Not player, but a third base coach walking almost all the way to home to “steal signs”. There was a big article on this very site about it. I am not sad to see him go because he is but a shell of his 2022 self. His nickname should be Hector Neris’s a bat because he gets lit up when he comes into a game nowadays.
Wen he was with Philly my name for him was Scare-us Neris.
In the few years he was used as a closer he managed to tie the teams all-time blown saves record. Many times I could not bear to watch and would turn off the game…… it was that bad.
The Dodgers’ 7-6 loss ended a split of a wild series that featured a pair of Philadelphia pitchers being ejected, including Neris just two nights earlier. He was ejected for hitting David Freese with a pitch near the head area immediately after allowing a go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the ninth on Tuesday — and Neris was then issued a three-game suspension by Major League Baseball. Neris, who is appealing that suspension, appeared to look toward the Dodgers’ dugout after closing out Thursday’s 7-6 win.
“Well, Neris got the save and he looked right in our dugout, screamed as loud as he can and yelled, ‘[Expletive] you,’” said Dodgers second baseman Max Muncy. “He’s blown about eight saves against us over the last two years, so I guess he was finally excited he got one. Whatever.”
SEATTLE — Astros reliever Hector Neris shouted at Julio Rodríguez after striking out the Mariners star during the sixth inning of Houston’s 8-3 win Wednesday night, causing both benches to empty.
Neris started yelling at Rodríguez, who was visibility angered by the pitcher’s actions. Neris said after the game that he and Rodríguez are friends and downplayed the incident.
Neris intentionally balked with Trevor Story on second base, then yelled towards the Red Sox dugout and exchanged words with third base coach Kyle Hudson after the inning ended. This again resulted in both benches clearing. Neris wouldn’t elaborate on what was said, downplaying the interaction as “part of the game” and “something funny”.
Good luck to any team that signs Cardiac Neris
Really wanted Neris to work out for the Astros but he can’t cut it anymore. I guess if someone need a bottom tier middle reliever, he’ll find work, but he looks done.
They’ll be lining up to sign this young flamethrower. There’ll be no stopping this kid.
Young? What Neris are you talking about? This one is 36!
@ayeah: That’s was sarcasm. You didn’t get it. (Though, in fairness, when humor doesn’t land, it is always the fault of the humorist–not the audience. I guess I didn’t tell the joke well enough, so it’s my bad.)
I figured the joke would be obvious, because Neris has been awful for years.
It’s really not your fault. The fact that you put it out there showed courage and fortitude. I fire my writer if the jokes fail me.
You are correct. I didn’t catch the sarcasm when I initially posted my response. But after re-reading it after it was too late to edit or delete it, I sensed the sarcasm. My bad.
He’ll get signed because there are not many options to acquire players after the deadline.
Just praying Duran’s ball hitting his ankle last night isn’t bad enough to end his season. For then the Phillies might need to bring back Neris. NOOOOOOO!
At age 36, 10+ years in the majors, multi millionaire now. “Baseball Ben vedy vedy good to me”~ Garret Morris.