MLB Rumors: Yankees, Rangers Frontrunners to Sign Héctor Neris in Free Agency

The market for free agent relief pitcher Héctor Neris appears to be heating up.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that Neris' market is "becoming active" and that the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are the current frontrunners to sign him.

Neris had a breakout 2023 with the Houston Astros, earning a career-best 1.71 ERA in 71 appearance and recording 77 strikeouts. The 34-year-old is entering his 11th MLB season and has a career ERA of 3.24 and helped the Astros win the 2022 World Series.

His tenure with the Astros has been resurgent, as he had a 2.69 ERA in his two seasons with the team after posting a 3.42 ERA in eight seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He is one of the best right-handed relievers available on the market and the fit with either Texas or New York makes sense.

The Rangers are defending World Series champions and possess a solid core and a strong pitching staff. Texas remains a real threat in the AL West and bolstering the bullpen depth could be huge for a team looking to win the division for the first time since 2016 and make another run at a championship.

The New York Yankees are looking to go all in in 2024 after acquiring slugging outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. The lineup is loaded with the likes of Soto and Aaron Judge and the rotation is headlined by reigning Cy Young-winner Gerrit Cole.

However, the AL East is a very talented division with teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays having young cores and the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox being threats as well. Adding Neris could give the Yankees the push the franchise needs after missing the postseason for the first time since 2016 last year.