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Braves Add Veteran Closer to Bullpen in Late Signing

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Lockett | Last updated Mar 3, 2025 1:02 PM ET

The Atlanta Braves made a notable late addition to their bullpen, signing veteran closer Héctor Neris to a minor-league contract at the start of March.

Neris, who will turn 36 in June, will report to spring training camp on Monday. Last season, he bounced between the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros, finishing with a 4.10 ERA, 10 wins, 4 losses, and 18 saves.

Braves fans are already familiar with Neris from his long tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he posted a solid 3.42 ERA and recorded 84 saves over eight seasons. His best season came in 2019, when he collected 28 saves and struck out 89 batters in 67.2 innings. Neris has been especially effective against the Braves in his career, holding a 3.62 ERA in 54 appearances against them.

After leaving the Phillies, Neris was a key contributor to the Houston Astros' 2022 World Series championship, with a standout performance that included nine strikeouts and just one earned run in six innings. He followed that up with a career-best 1.71 ERA in 2023.

Now with the Braves, Neris will provide depth as a potential setup man behind closer Raisel Iglesias. Atlanta’s bullpen took a hit with the news that former All-Star Joe Jiménez is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season after knee surgery. Jiménez had posted a career-best 2.62 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 2023.

While Neris has the potential to fill a significant role in the Braves’ bullpen, it remains to be seen whether his minor-league deal includes an opt-out clause if he doesn’t make the big-league roster by the end of spring training.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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