Cubs Release Héctor Neris, Promote Recent Acquisition Jack Neely

So much for that player option for 2025 vesting with 60 appearances. As first reported by ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the Cubs have released reliever Héctor Neris after he was designated for assignment and cleared waivers. Jack Neely, who came over in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade with the Yankees, is being promoted to fill the bullpen vacancy. While this isn’t necessarily surprising in and of itself given Neris’s inconsistent performance, it’s an unfortunate end to the team’s biggest reliever acquisition last offseason.

Rather than go a little bigger for a multiyear agreement with a younger, higher-profile pitcher, the Cubs opted to sign Neris to a one-year deal with a $9 million guarantee. Things might have worked out a little better had the 35-year-old righty been able to work in more of a setup role, but Adbert Alzolay‘s struggles and subsequent injury meant pushing Neris into the 9th inning.

The former Astro led all relievers in MLB with eight wins on the season, but that tally came at the cost of five blown saves and countless nail-biting moments. You had to have an AED on hand every time the guy took the mound, with even relatively routine outings getting way too exciting. Though he made another appearance after it, the death knell for Neris came when he gave up three runs to the Blue Jays to put the Cubs at the brink of a loss they could have ill afforded.

The vesting option was almost certainly a factor, as Neris needed just 14 more appearances to trigger it. Keeping him around until he got closer could have triggered a grievance, and failing to use him could have done the same while also forcing other relievers to carry too much of the load. By cutting ties now, the Cubs can give more opportunities to Neely and others who figure to be part of the team moving forward.

Neely is an interesting prospect who needed to be on the 40-man roster anyway to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft this winter. He’s 6-foot-8 and sits mid-90s with a nasty slider that has led to huge strikeout numbers in the minors. And unlike a lot of young power pitchers, he’s not prone to big walk numbers. His tilt and extension contribute to greater perceived velocity and make him difficult to square up.

This is a move that makes a ton of sense for right now and the future, whether it’s making a last-gasp push for the playoffs this year or setting up a better squad for 2025 and beyond.