PHILADELPHIA – The player in question isn’t one you would expect me to be writing about, but since his departure from the East Coast, he’s been lighting it up in Houston.
Hector Neris, a closer with a less-than-great track record in Philly, has now become one of the hottest relief arms on the market. The question is, where will Neris land?
An East Coast Reunion?
Hector Neris spent the better part of eight years in Philly, which were muddled by a slew of blown saves and the obvious fact that he couldn’t be relied upon in high-pressure situations. Following his departure at the end of the 2021 season, he headed off to the Astros as a free agent and gained a reputation as one of the best relievers in the league.
This caused Hector’s market to soar as he headed into free agency as well as the thought of a potential reunion with the Phightins. According to a report from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, however, his return most likely won’t be happening as the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers have come forward as frontrunners to ink the reliever.
The Dominican flamethrower declined his player option worth $8.5 million with Houston to have the ability to test his attractiveness in free agency. His stats from last season sure present themselves as eye-popping since he posted a 1.71 ERA accompanied by an ERA+ of 246 in 71 appearances and 68 1/3 IP.
The Yankees boasted the best bullpen in all of MLB last season with a cumulative ERA of 3.34. The Rangers, on the other hand, ranked towards the bottom in that category with a whopping 4.47 cumulative ERA. So it’s safe to say that one team is looking to continue to bolster their roster and maintain that reputation while the other is in clear desperation mode to improve.
Keep in mind, even with the mention of Hector Neris to either New York or Texas, this doesn’t mean that Philly hasn’t been in contact with his camp. It would be interesting to witness him come back to his roots, considering the bad taste he left in fans’ mouths, but hey, he may be ready to embrace the reunion.
Options for Hector Neris
Aside from what’s known, what remains to be seen is the amount of money Hector Neris is looking for from whichever club he decides to sign with. His declination of the player option amount could signal that he’s looking for more money, a longer term on his contract, or just the opportunity to look elsewhere.
If I had to assume his ideal price, I would say that it could be in the ballpark of $9-$9.5 million annually for a 2-3 year deal. With a number like this in mind, the Phillies may look for cheaper help elsewhere, considering they still need bullpen help, but they could always entertain the idea.
Their timeframe to extend an offer is dwindling due to high competition, so if there’s any moment for them to act and mend fences with Neris, it’s now.
Photo Credit: (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)
