Royals Sign Veteran Reliever Héctor Neris to Minor League Deal

The Kansas City Royals have signed 36-year-old right-hander Héctor Neris to a minor league deal, which includes an invite to spring training. Neris pitched for the Braves, Angels, and Astros in 2025, recording a 6.75 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. He had 18 saves and a 4.10 ERA in 2024, and a 3.03 ERA with 11.0 K/9 from 2021-2023. While he still misses bats with his split-fingered fastball, his four-seamer was hit hard, and his groundball rate was a career-low in 2025. He will compete for a spot in the Royals' bullpen.