Yesterday, the Orioles announced the signing of right-hander Adrian Houser to a minor league contract. Houser, who had recently been released from a minor league deal with the Cubs, quickly found a new opportunity with Baltimore.
Since Houser joined the Orioles before the September 1 deadline, he is eligible for postseason play. However, his performance this season may not strongly justify a spot in the playoffs. Houser has posted a 5.84 ERA over 69 1/3 innings with the Mets, along with a 10.4% walk rate and a 14.6% strikeout rate, which are among the lowest in the league.
Though Houser showed some improvement after transitioning from the Mets’ rotation to a long relief role, he was released by New York at the end of July. The Cubs did not promote him from Triple-A Iowa during his brief stint there. In Iowa, Houser pitched as a starter and recorded a 3.86 ERA with a 6.6% walk rate over 18 2/3 innings, but had a 15.8% strikeout rate.
Houser’s game has typically relied on inducing ground balls and generating soft contact rather than striking out batters. His effectiveness has often depended on batted-ball luck, a pattern he maintained during his seven seasons with the Brewers before being traded to the Mets last December.
The Orioles, who have faced numerous injuries to their rotation this season, were unable to successfully address their pitching needs at the trade deadline. Trevor Rogers, acquired to help bolster the staff, struggled and was sent to Triple-A, while another acquisition, Zach Eflin, was injured but has since returned from the IL. Baltimore’s current rotation includes Eflin, Corbin Burnes, Dean Kremer, Albert Suarez, and Cade Povich.
Houser’s addition provides the Orioles with experienced depth for their rotation, and with Kremer leaving yesterday’s game with a forearm contusion, Houser could be called up sooner rather than later. Additionally, the Orioles might use Houser in the bullpen as a long reliever, potentially in a piggyback role with another starter.
Houser is owed approximately $840K of his $5.05MM salary for 2024. If he joins the Orioles’ active roster, Baltimore will only need to pay the prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary, with the Mets covering the rest.
