Houston Astros Pick Up Reliever Hector Neris

Happy homecoming, Hector Neris. Neris, one of the most popular and important pitchers for the Houston Astros, is back with the team. He was released on Wednesday by the Chicago Cubs, where he signed a $9 million, two-year contract as a free agent.

Things on the North Side of Chicago didn’t go too well. Neris wasn’t effective enough for the Cubs, so they let him go. He got a phone call within a matter of hours from the Astros. It’s a great addition to the ballclub and adds bullpen support.

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Houston Astros Boost Bullpen

Neris is no wallflower when on the mound. He’s known to express his emotions fully, letting out a shout after getting a key strikeout. Houston Astros fans will not forget Neris literally starring down Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez after striking him out in the American League playoffs.

All the Astros are on the hook for is a $200,000 deal with Neris since they picked him after his release. Where will the Mighty Hector fit into the team’s pitching plans? Right now, Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly, and Josh Hader are set up for the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Yet Pressly just went on the disabled list for the Houston Astros. So Neris might find himself in seventh-inning work right now.

OK, so just how much does getting Neris mean to the organization? Michael Schwab, who writes The Juice Box Journal, sent out an emergency newsletter on Thursday. In it, Schwab said he talked with some people in the Astros organization. His quotes from them were “The band is back together!” Also, “He brings leadership to (the) bullpen and a lot (of) positive energy. He is fun and always available to pitch any situation, any hitter; he loves the challenge and loves to compete.”

In two prior seasons with the Houston Astros, Neris made 141 relief appearances. He worked 133 1/3 innings, recording 156 strikeouts. Neris’ ERA was 2.69. In Chicago this season, Neris, 33, made 46 appearances out of the bullpen. He had a 3.89 ERA with 17 saves. Neris posted 46 strikeouts in 44 innings of work.

Josh Miller Happy With Addition

Astros pitching coach Josh Miller was a guest on MLB Network Radio’s Power Alley on Thursday morning. When asked about the Neris signing, Miller spoke highly of the pitcher’s work ethic. He also pointed out the fact that Neris had been a part of the Houst0n Astros 2022 World Series-winning team. Neris was vital in the team’s AL playoff run that ended in an American League Championship Series loss to eventual World Series champ Texas last season.

The Astros open up a four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night. Spencer Arrighetti (5-11, 5.20 ERA) of the Astros goes up against Corbin Burnes (12-5, 3.10 ERA) for the Orioles.

A couple of things for Houston Astros fans to watch entering this series. Third baseman Alex Bregman did lead off in Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Lineups were not available early Thursday afternoon, but it will be interesting to see if he’s back playing in the field. Bregman was the designated hitter on Wednesday, giving usual leadoff man Jose Altuve a day off.

With Bregman’s tricky elbow issues, seeing if he’s 100 percent ready to play at the “Hot Corner” again is worth watching.

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Article originally written by Joe Rutland