In a surprising move, the Chicago Cubs have designated veteran reliever Héctor Neris for assignment, opting to move in a new direction for their bullpen. The Cubs had signed Neris over the offseason with hopes of adding both veteran leadership and a durable arm to their late-inning mix. However, his performance as the team's closer proved to be rocky and inconsistent, leading to this decision.

It has been announced that the Cubs will be promoting relief prospect Jack Neely to join their bullpen for his MLB debut. Neely, ranked as the 18th prospect on Pipeline's Cubs rankings, was acquired from the Yankees in a trade that sent reliever Mark Leiter Jr. away before the July 30 Trade Deadline.

Since joining Triple-A Iowa, Neely, a 24-year-old right-hander, has showcased his talent by logging 6 2/3 shutout innings with an impressive 13 strikeouts, only one walk, and three saves in just three appearances. Equipped with a slider and a four-seamer with an average velocity of 95.6 mph, Neely has compiled a solid 2.42 ERA in 37 games across Double-A Somerset, Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and Triple-A Iowa this year. His exceptional strikeout-to-walk ratio of 76 to 17 further demonstrates his potential.

The decision to promote Neely at this point allows the Cubs to evaluate his abilities against MLB competition and assess his potential contribution to the team's bullpen in the upcoming years. By adding him to the 40-man roster now, Chicago can effectively remove Neely from the Rule 5 Draft player pool, ensuring his future with the organization.

Meanwhile, the Cubs bid farewell to Neris, who signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the team last offseason. Neris, 35, was initially intended to provide stability and experience to their bullpen. However, his performance this season fell short of expectations. Despite recording 17 saves and finishing 33 games, Neris struggled with a 3.89 ERA, high walk and strikeout rates, and a significantly increased hard-hit rate compared to previous years.

Neris' departure also impacts his contract, as the Cubs' decision eliminates a $9 million team option that could have converted into a player option under certain conditions. Although another team may sign Neris as a free agent before the end of this season, the option is no longer applicable.

Despite his on-field struggles, Neris quickly became a respected presence within the Cubs' clubhouse, offering valuable veteran leadership and serving as a supportive voice for his teammates. In fact, his improved performances in his last 18 appearances contributed to the Cubs' bullpen resurgence, with the team leading the Majors in bullpen ERA since both June 1 (2.69) and July 1 (2.09).

As the Cubs make this bold move by designating Neris and promoting the promising Jack Neely, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the team's bullpen dynamics. With the rest of the season ahead, the Cubs are taking steps to strengthen their roster and assess their bullpen options for the future.