A league source revealed on Saturday that the Chicago Cubs and Hector Neris are finalising a one-year, $9 million deal, which would add an accomplished reliever who helped the Houston Astros win the 2022 World Series to their bullpen.
Jed Hoyer’s baseball operations staff has focused on the bullpen ever since the Cubs crumbled last September, missing the postseason by one game. The Cubs failed to qualify for October with a comparatively new group of reliable relievers, among other missteps. David Ross took the brunt of the responsibility in the end, regardless of whether it was more the fault of player development, coaching staff, or front office.
The Cubs will have a competent strategist in the dugout with the hire of Craig Counsell and the firing of Ross. When Counsell was managing the Milwaukee Brewers, he also had some very excellent relievers on his team. Neris, 34, is precisely the type of reliever the Cubs were hoping to sign this winter: someone with experience in the late innings and big games.
Additionally, Neris won’t be employed long-term, which aligns with Hoyer’s bullpen-building strategy. If Neris plays in 60 games this season, the contract’s 2025 team option will become a player option. ESPN broke the agreement first.
Hoyer provides some security for the club by including an alternative based on appearances in case Neris is hurt or becomes so ineffective that he cannot be used as frequently as required. In previous winters, Hoyer has been hesitant to provide multi-year contracts to relievers. However, given the team’s dire need for relief help, he acknowledged that he would probably need to step outside of his comfort zone in order to entice a seasoned arm to join this bullpen.
But obtaining someone like Neris, who was rumoured to be looking for several years, on terms Hoyer would find acceptable looked unlikely in a market when older veterans like Aroldis Chapman and David Robertson saw their one-year deals surpass $10 million.
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