The Chicago Cubs released reliever Hector Neris and called up fellow right-hander Jack Neely on Tuesday.
Neris, recently designated for assignment, signed a one-year, $9 million contract in the offseason. The deal included a $9 million team option for 2025.
That would have converted to a player option provided he made 60 appearances or finished 45 games and was injury-free at the end of the season.
Neris, 35, converted 17 of 22 save attempts and issued 26 walks over 44 innings while serving as the Cubs’ closer this season. He is 8-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 46 relief appearances in 2024, finishing 33 games.
Neris is 41-40 with a 3.29 ERA with 106 saves in 592 career relief appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies (2014-21), Houston Astros (2022-23) and the Cubs.
Neely, 24, was one of two prospects acquired by Chicago in a trade with the New York Yankees for reliever Mark Leiter Jr. on July 30. Neely is the Cubs’ No. 18 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
Neely is 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA in 37 relief appearances with three different minor league teams in 2024. He has yet to make his major-league debut.
