Philadelphia Phillies: Possible Hector Neris Trade Destinations

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If the Philadelphia Phillies decide to trade Hector Neris, where could he go?

The 2018 Philadelphia Phillies won’t look drastically different from the 2017 team, but they will have a few new faces. This means some of those familiar smiles won’t return either. Included in this latter group is closer Hector Neris.

The Phillies got lucky with Neris. In 2015, he showed promising abilities. The following season, Neris made the leap from promising to capable.

Neris appeared in 79 games for the 2016 Phillies during which he delivered a 2.58 ERA over 80.1 innings of work. While he took a backseat to others in the closer role, Neris established himself as a late-bloomer with a bright future. The good times continued into 2017 where Neris ended the year with a 3.01 ERA and 26 saves. For the second straight season, he also fanned more than 10 batters per nine frames.

The stuff is there. The ability to get outs and convert saves is also present. Neris has all of the attributes to be a regular closer. Unfortunately, the timing is not right for the Phillies. This is a team expected to rebuild for at least another year, which may mean the best seasons of his career are wasted on a bottom of the standings team.

Right now, the Phillies don’t need a closer like Neris. They could use a lot of other help which is why trading him this offseason is one way to climb the standings sooner than later. Neris has a lot more trade value than we give him credit for thanks to his skill and years of control. The 28-year-old won’t even reach arbitration until after the 2018 campaign.

So, if the Phillies do want to find a match in a potential Neris trade, which organizations are a possible match?

Arizona Diamondbacks

One department the Arizona Diamondbacks lacked in during the 2017 campaign was in the closer role. Veteran Fernando Rodney was often shaky, leaving the ninth inning a rollercoaster. He’s probably not going to return next year which leaves the Diamondbacks with an opportunity and mission to add a new closer. Is Neris the man for the job?

Considering his price tag, Neris might be perfect. The Diamondbacks are in no position to sell the farm or sign any big name free agent closers like Wade Davis. This is a team with a short window to win and an increasingly high payroll. Since they should be in the market to possibly add an outfielder and reconstruct the entire bullpen, Neris makes a whole lot of sense.

Zack Greinke’s contract and other big payroll burdens will limit the Diamondbacks from targeting any expensive closers. Though it’s a spot all playoff-ready teams shouldn’t neglect, the rest of the roster needs to be built before a serious pursuit.

I do think the Diamondbacks also have enough young talent to convince the Phillies to conduct a deal. While their minor league is not stacked with pitchers, they have multiple MLB-ready position players that could tempt the Phillies. Philadelphia will still have the advantage in any transaction these two teams make so the Diamondbacks should prepare to pay a reasonable price for Neris.

Los Angeles Angels

How willing at the Los Angeles Angels to go from American League West underdog to favorite? By making savvy moves like trading for Neris, they could get on the right track.

Behind Mike Trout, there isn’t much to like about the Angels. Still, they did make a nice run at a wild card berth this past season. Andrelton Simmons’ bat nearly kept up with his glove and the late addition of Justin Upton bolstered the offense.

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The pitching, unfortunately, let them down. From the first inning to the ninth, Angels’ pitchers were rarely performing well.

Cam Bedrosian is easily the best candidate to close for the Angels in 2018. After missing a lot of time in 2017, it could mean easing him back into the role. Neris doesn’t necessarily need all of a team’s saves. He’s a proven setup man and someone the Angels could benefit from having in any relief role. If they happen to stumble upon another Bud Norris (from the first half) then Neris could lock down the eighth inning instead of the ninth.

With the Angels’ already high payroll and limited farm system, a pitcher like Neris is a great pickup. It’s hard to imagine the Phillies committing highway robbery in any deal involving Neris. If all they get back is a younger version of Neris who can contribute when the team is winning again, this hypothetical deal would be a win.

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals need a closer badly. Other than trading for Zach Britton or signing Wade Davis, one of the better actions to take is trading for Neris.

The Cardinals absolutely have the talent to pull off this deal. Randal Grichuk is on the trade block and someone the Phillies should be willing to take a risk on even with their already crowded outfield. After all, they’re one Aaron Altherr pulled hamstring away from needing someone new. It’s not just Grichuk either that should interest Philadelphia as St. Louis also has some pitching to serve up as well.

Neris fits well with the Cardinals mostly because his presence would allow them to spend in other areas. I’m terrified for their starting rotation next year. Alex Reyes is coming off of Tommy John surgery and Lance Lynn will probably head elsewhere. Any big dollars they spend in free agency should go toward starting pitching or a power bat. Closer is the least of their concerns until they sort out that part of the roster.

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Cardinals fans probably won’t feel too pumped seeing Neris join the team. Their expectations are much higher than a guy who earned his MLB keep. They want a groomed closer saving games for Carlos Martinez. Beggars can’t be choosers. This offseason, the Cardinals will need to do a little more begging than they’re accustomed to. Accepting this fact and targeting sleeper picks like Neris would help them in the long run. If there’s anything they should have learned from the Brett Cecil contract it’s that money does not equal talent.

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