This past offseason wasn’t one Braves fans will remember fondly. Atlanta’s decision to sign Jurickson Profar backfired almost immediately due to his suspension, and they also failed to reinforce a bullpen that lost longtime reliever A.J. Minter to free agency and Joe Jiménez to knee surgery. Desperate for arms, the Braves tested a mix of pitchers during spring camp — including the late surprise signing of Hector Neris.
While Neris had been a solid reliever in recent seasons, his lack of a proper spring training seemed to hinder his performance. After just two rough outings, Atlanta quickly decided to cut ties, admitting that the signing hadn’t panned out. Ironically, Neris has now landed with a familiar Braves trade partner — the Los Angeles Angels, who signed him to a minor league deal.
Hector Neris
Some may question the Angels’ decision after how poorly Neris performed in Atlanta, but the move is low-risk. It’s likely the Angels saw enough in his workouts to believe there’s potential for a rebound — and since it’s a minor league contract, there’s little downside if things don’t work out.
Still, it’s hard not to chuckle at the Angels being the ones to take another ex-Braves player. The two teams have traded multiple times in recent months, and of course, Ron Washington’s departure to manage the Angels still stings Atlanta. If Neris can bounce back, it’ll be yet another bullpen piece Atlanta gifted to L.A. — and the Braves are quickly running low on extras.
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