Yesterday, the Orioles announced that right-hander Adrian Houser had been signed to a minor league contract. Houser had been in the Cubs organization on a minor league deal, but he was released Wednesday, allowing the righty to immediately find a new team.
Houser is eligible for a playoff roster spot because he joined the Orioles before the September 1 deadline. However, the veteran hasn’t done much this season to deserve postseason consideration, with a 5.84 ERA over 69 1/3 innings with the Mets, as well as a poor 10.4% walk rate and a 14.6% strikeout rate, both of which are among baseball’s lowest.
While Houser performed well after being moved out of New York’s rotation and into a lengthy relief role, the Mets decided to release him at the end of July, and the Cubs did not feel obliged to bring him up during his brief stint at Triple-A Iowa. Houser was utilized as a starter again in Iowa, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 6.6% walk rate in 18 2/3 innings while maintaining a 15.8K%.
Strikeouts have never been Houser’s strength, as he has depended on grounders and soft contact to have success in his eight MLB seasons. Given the nature of his approach on the mound, batted-ball luck tended to weigh heavier on Houser’s bottom-line numbers, but he had overall decent results in seasons with the Brewers before he was traded to the Mets last December.
The Orioles have been plagued by rotation injuries all season, and their efforts to strengthen the staff at the deadline were thwarted when Trevor Rogers failed so much that he was optioned to Triple A. Zach Eflin, another pre-deadline pick who was hindered by injury, returned from the IL today, giving the Orioles a rotation of Eflin, Corbin Burnes, Dean Kremer, Albert Suarez, and Cade Povich.
Houser brings some seasoned rotation depth to the mix, and with Kremer out of yesterday’s game due to a forearm contusion, Houser might be called up to the majors sooner rather than later. Baltimore may also consider using Houser in the bullpen, as a competent long man might strengthen the pitching staff in another way, maybe resulting in a piggyback situation with Houser and another starter.
Houser is still owed approximately $840,000 of his $5.05MM salary for 2024. If he joins the Orioles’ active roster, he will only be paid a prorated amount of the MLB minimum salary, with the Mets covering the remaining balance.
