HOUSTON (AP) — Reliever Hector Neris declined his part of an $8.5 million mutual option for 2024 with the Houston Astros and became a free agent Sunday.
Neris gets a $1 million buyout, completing a $17 million, two-year contract.
The 34-year-old right-hander was 6-3 with a 1.71 ERA and two saves in 71 games, his third straight season of 70 or more appearances. He had a 6.48 ERA in seven postseason appearances, allowing home runs to Minnesota’s Jorge Polanco and Royce Lewis in an AL Division Series opener and to Texas’ Josh Jung in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series.
![Houston Astros relief pitcher Hector Neris throws during the fourth inning of Game 7 of the baseball AL Championship Series against the Texas Rangers Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)](https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/2023110521110-654849042945b085d31035a8jpeg.jpg?w=1000)
From the Dominican Republic, Neris is 33-36 with a 3.24 ERA and 89 saves in 10 seasons with Philadelphia (2014-21) and Houston (2022-23).
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