Houston Astros relief pitcher Hector Neris (50) reacts after getting Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh (29) to ground out with the bases loaded in the sixth inning during Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Houston.
The Texas Rangers are still looking for bullpen help, whether it’s a long-reliever or a closer. Perhaps an option could be found down south. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports that the Rangers and New York Yankees have emerged as potential candidates to sign free reliever Héctor Neris, who has pitched with the Houston Astros for the past two seasons. Neris is coming off arguably his best season. He had a 1.71 ERA and a .174 opponent batting average in 68.1 innings for the Astros. Both were career lows. The right-hander declined his $8.5 million player option for 2024 on Nov. 7, making himself a free agent. In 8.1 postseason innings in 2023, he had a 6.48 ERA but four of the six runs he allowed came in his first postseason outing against the Minnesota Twins. He held opponents, including five appearances against the Rangers in the ALCS, to a .115 batting average with a 2.35 ERA in his final 7.2 innings. In the Astros’ 2022 title run, Neris came up big. He had a 3.72 ERA in 70 regular-season games and allowed one run in eight postseason games.
Neris, 34, is 33-36 with 89 saves in 10 major league seasons. He had 28 and 26 saves in 2019 and 2017. He has a 3.24 ERA, 676 strikeouts, and a .213 batting average against in 541.1 innings in his career. Neris earned $8 million in each of the past two seasons with the Astros.
