Hector Neris and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a one-year, $9 million contract.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Neris, who spent the first eight years of his big league career with the Philadelphia Phillies, has a chance to compete for the National League Central and in the playoffs with an improving Cubs team.
Neris had impressive seasons with the Phillies, but it was his 2023 season with the Houston Astros that was the best of his career. He posted a 1.71 ERA in 68 1/3 innings. In the 2022 season, Neris was a member of the Houston team that beat Philadelphia in the World Series.
The 34-year-old struck out four in 2.0 innings through three appearances and didn’t allow a run against the Phillies.
Despite the struggles at times in Philadelphia, Neris was a reliable arm that could pitch in 65-plus innings each season. This move indicates that the Phillies will have another National League team to watch out for. His best season came in 2016 when he posted a 2.58 ERA in 80 1/3 innings.
Chicago made Craig Counsell the highest-paid manager in baseball and the expectation is that they’re going to compete in 2024. They’ve now added Shota Imanaga and Neris this offseason, two of the top available arms in free agency this offseason.
Their next order of business should be re-signing Cody Bellinger. The lineup could be much better heading into the year and with Bellinger not re-signed, could be even worse than it was last season.
