Cubs release former closer Hector Neris, call up Jack Neely

CHICAGO -- The Cubsreleased reliever Hector Neris, who cleared waivers after being designated for assignment, the team announced Tuesday.

Neris, 35, was 8-4 with 17 saves and a 3.89 ERA in 46 games with Chicago this season, his first and only one with the team. He also blew five saves while compiling a 1.52 WHIP during some tumultuous times as the team's closer after being elevated to that role early in the year.

Neris signed with the Cubs last winter on a one-year, $9 million contract that included a team option for 2025. That would have turned into a player option if the righty appeared in 60 games in 2024 or finished 45 of them, but that part of his deal disappears now that he has cleared waivers and been released. Neris is now free to sign with any team for the prorated minimum.

The 11-year veteran has appeared in 592 career regular-season games and another 15 in the postseason. He was originally signed by the Cubs to be a veteran presence in the bullpen while performing setup duties, but ineffectiveness and an injury to Adbert Alzolay pushed Neris into the closer role. He was miscast there as his fastball/split combination wasn't as effective as it was in his previous season, when he compiled a 1.71 ERA for the Houston Astros.

"Just trying to take a look at different guys in different roles and getting some new guys up here," Cubs manager Craig Counsell, speaking before the team's 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, said when asked why Neris was released.

The Cubs called up right-hander Jack Neely to take Neris' place on the roster. Neely was acquired from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline for Mark Leiter Jr. Neely was an 11th-round pick of the Yankees in 2021 and will be making his MLB debut when he appears in a game.

"We've lost experience and that's something we didn't replace [with Neely]," Counsell said. "Overall, we've been pitching well and we've had some players step up. And we're hoping we're going to find another player here that can step up and make an impact."

The Cubs are second in the NL Central, 11.5 games behind the Brewers, whom Counsell managed for eight years before taking the job in Chicago.