The Chicago Cubs needed to add more players to the bullpen.
Getting a reliever with a consistent history was very important, and they finally dealt with it on Saturday.
The Cubs and veteran relief pitcher Héctor Neris have reached a one-year, $9 million agreement, which also includes a team option for 2025 worth $9 million. If Neris participates in 60 games, the option changes to a player option. He has reached this mark in the last three years and six of eight seasons, excluding 2020. His overall earnings with bonuses can reach $23.25 million.
Bringing in Neris fulfills important needs in the bullpen. He provides durability, having played in at least 70 games five times. He also gives the Cubs a reliable reliever for key moments, with experience in high-pressure games. The Cubs bullpen struggled towards the end of the season, leading to their failure to make the 2023 postseason.
Neris, 34, has a career 3.24 ERA over 546 appearances in the major leagues, and he recently played two seasons in Houston, winning a World Series title in 2022. He also spent eight years with the Philadelphia Phillies. While primarily used in the seventh and eighth innings with the Astros, Neris has experience as a closer, earning five saves in Houston and 84 with the Phillies.
Neris gives the Cubs another pitch option in the bullpen, alongside right-hander Mark Leiter Jr.'s strong pitch against left-handed players. Neris uses his pitch against both right-handed and left-handed players, with a 42.2 Whiff% and .237 slugging percentage in 2023.
Although he usually relies on a four-seam fastball and splitter combination against left-handed players, Neris also uses a sinker and slider when facing right-handed hitters. His average fastball velocity decreased by 1.3 mph from 2022 to 2023, but the deal shows that the Cubs are not overly worried about this.
The Cubs' efforts to create a more experienced bullpen should not stop with the Neris signing. They still need more depth and, ideally, another reliever with postseason experience.
And with Cody Bellinger is one of the notable free agent position players who are still available, and the Cubs have the potential to make significant improvements to their roster in the next few weeks. still available in free agency, the Cubs are capable of making significant roster improvements in the coming weeks.
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