Orioles' Adrian Houser: Nets MiLB deal with Baltimore
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Houser agreed to a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Saturday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Houser was released by the Mets in late July, but he caught on with the Cubs on Aug. 7 on a minor-league deal, only to be cut less than a month later. Now with his third organization of the season, Houser should provide starting depth for the Orioles at Triple-A Norfolk, but his lack of a 40-man roster spot could be an obstacle in getting another big-league opportunity in 2024.
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Cubs' Adrian Houser: Receives MiLB deal from Cubs
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The Cubs signed Houser to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
Houser was cut loose by the Mets in late July after putting up a 5.84 ERA and 45:32 K:BB over 69.1 innings covering seven starts and 16 relief appearances. He will join the rotation at Triple-A Iowa, where he'll provide the Cubs with some veteran starting pitching depth.
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Adrian Houser: Heads to open market
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The Mets released Houser on Wednesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Houser will head to free agency after he went unclaimed off waivers upon being designated for assignment last weekend. The right-hander opened the season in the Mets' rotation, posting an 8.55 ERA over seven starts before he was permanently moved him to the bullpen in late May. Houser turned in a 3.28 ERA over 35.2 innings as a reliever, but he didn't notice much of a bump in his strikeout rate (16.8 percent) and had mostly underwhelming underlying statistics. He'll look to catch on elsewhere as organizational starting pitching depth and may have to settle for a minor-league contract.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
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The Mets designated Houser for assignment Friday.
Houser looked like a reasonable addition to the back end of the Mets rotation when they traded for him over the offseason. The gambit didn't work out, however, with the 31-year-old holding an 8.55 ERA and 20:21 K:BB over 33.2 innings in seven starts. He posted a 3.28 ERA while working out of the bullpen but had allowed nine runs over nine innings this month. Houser will almost certainly clear waivers, given his $5.05 million salary. He'll likely elect free agency once he clears waivers and will pursue an opportunity with another organization.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Collects first hold
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Houser gave up two hits and two walks over 2.1 scoreless relief innings Monday to record his first hold of the season in Monday's win over the Nationals. He failed to strike out a batter.
It was far from a dominant performance, but Houser was able to protect an 8-5 lead after taking the ball from Tylor Megill to begin the sixth inning. Houser has adjusted well to a long-relief role so far, allowing two earned runs in 12.1 innings over five appearances, but his 5:7 K:BB suggests his luck won't last. Monday's hold was just the second of his career, with the other coming back in 2019 when he filled a similar swingman role with the Brewers.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Returning to bullpen
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Houser will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game against the Giants, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Houser returned to the rotation Tuesday against the Guardians but put up another dud with six runs allowed over five innings. He'll lose his starting spot during the upcoming week, as the Mets will bring David Peterson (hip) back from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday versus the Dodgers. Houser has struggled to an 8.55 ERA in seven starts this season, but he's pitched better in his two relief outings with just one earned run allowed over four frames.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Drawing start Tuesday
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Houser is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Guardians at Progressive Field.
Houser had made his last two appearances as a reliever, but he'll slot into the rotation at least temporarily and afford all other five starters some rest while the Mets are in the midst of a stretch of 13 games in 13 days that ends Wednesday. After Thursday's off day, the Mets will have another stretch of 13 games in 13 days, but unless he impresses Tuesday, Houser may not be the top choice to stick around in a starting role if New York expands its rotation to six men. Rather than Houser, Jose Butto -- who posted a 3.08 ERA over seven starts before being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse last Wednesday -- would look to be a more worthy candidate to rejoin the big-league rotation.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Won't start Wednesday after all
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Houser will no longer start Wednesday in Philadelphia after warming up in the bullpen during Tuesday's game versus the Phillies, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Houser had been set to rejoin the rotation after a brief demotion to the bullpen, but the club had him get loose when it looked like he might be needed in relief Tuesday. He ultimately didn't pitch, but he won't be ready to start Wednesday. The team has not yet announced a starter for Wednesday's contest.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Shifting to bullpen
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The Mets are moving Houser to the bullpen for their upcoming road series, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
Houser last started Thursday against the Cubs, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two over five innings in a no-decision. He's registering an 8.16 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 16:20 K:BB over 28.2 innings this season and holds an 0-3 record over six starts. With top pitching prospect Christian Scott making his major-league debut Saturday against the Rays and Tylor Megill (shoulder) inching closer to a return, Houser will shift over to the bullpen, at least temporarily. Following New York's road series against St. Louis, the Mets will determine whether Houser's move will be permanent.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Goes five innings in no-decision
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Houser did not factor into the decision against the Cubs on Thursday, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out two.
Houser held the Cubs to one run through his first four innings before giving up a three-run homer to Christopher Morel in the fifth. While the Mets would rally for a win in extra innings, saving Houser from a third straight loss, it was another subpar outing from the 31-year-old right-hander. Houser's yet to record an out in the sixth inning this year while posting an ugly 8.16 ERA with a 1.85 WHIP and 6.28 BB/9 -- well up from his career average of 3.68. With Christian Scott, the Mets' top pitching prospect, poised to join the rotation this weekend and Tylor Megill (shoulder) working his way back from injury, Houser's starting job could soon be in jeopardy. However, he may receive another turn through the rotation since the Mets will move to a six-man unit with the addition of Scott, per SportsNet New York.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Rotation spot secure for now
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Houser (0-3) took the loss Saturday versus the Cardinals, permitting six runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.1 frames.
Houser notched just two strikeouts and needed 89 pitches to cover his 4.1 unimpressive innings. In five starts and 23.2 innings this season, Houser holds an 8.37 ERA and 14:16 K:BB. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after Saturday's game that Houser's spot in the rotation is not currently in jeopardy, per Laura Albanese of Newsday. However, with Tylor Megill (shoulder) starting a rehab assignment and youngster Christian Scott dominating at Triple-A Syracuse, Houser had better right the ship in a hurry.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Pummeled for eight runs
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Houser (0-2) took the loss Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing eight runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three over four innings.
Houser had given up just two runs through four innings after Shohei Ohtani took him deep in the third, but he was unable to get an out in the fifth and wound up being charged with six runs in the frame. The home run to Ohtani was the first Houser's given up this year, though his command continues to be a struggle, as he now owns a 12:14 K:BB to go along with a 7.45 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 19.1 innings. The 31-year-old will look to bounce back in his next outing, which projects to come against the Cardinals.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Walks five in no-decision
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Houser did not factor into the decision Monday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
Houser struggled with his command Monday night as he yielded five free passes, matching a career-worse set three times in 2021. However, in encouraging news, he managed to regain velocity on his main pitch, the sinker. The pitch averaged 92.4 mph Monday night, in-line with his 92.5-mph average velocity in 2023. Houser is slated to face the Dodgers on the road in his next start.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Tigers-Mets postponed Wednesday
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Houser and the Mets won't face the Tigers on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather at Citi Field.
The interleague matchup has now been postponed for consecutive days and will be made up as part of a doubleheader Thursday. Expect Houser to start at least one of the two contests, while the Mets could delve into the minor-league ranks for a spot starter for the second game of the twin bill as the team begins a stretch of 15 games in 14 days.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Tuesday's contest postponed
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Houser and the Mets will not play the Tigers on Tuesday after the contest was postponed due to poor weather, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Houser will likely now draw the start Wednesday, while Tuesday's game has been rescheduled for Thursday afternoon. The right-hander was initially expected to have a two-start week, which now appears to be unlikely.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Fans six against Nats
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Houser allowed four runs on four hits over five innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The ball was carrying to left field at Clover Park, and Luis Garcia was able to slice a solo shot over the fence in the first inning before Lane Thomas clubbed a three-run blast in the fifth. Otherwise Houser had little trouble with the Washington lineup, firing 44 of 64 pitches for strikes. The former Brewer has been sharp this spring, posting a 14:1 K:BB through 12 innings, and he's on track to open the season in the Mets' rotation after producing a 4.12 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 96:34 K:BB over 111.1 innings last year and earning a one-year, $5 million contract with New York in January.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Shaky outing Sunday
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Houser gave up three runs on four hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out two.
The 31-year-old right-hander worked up to 43 pitches (29 strikes) but gave up a lot of loud contact to a Houston lineup that featured only a couple regulars, including two doubles by Jake Meyers and a Jon Singleton two-bagger that nearly left the yard. Houser would need to have a disastrous spring to lose his spot in the Mets' rotation after signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the team in January, but his 4.42 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 6.9 K/9 over the last two seasons with the Brewers give him little fantasy appeal outside.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Tosses two scoreless frames Tuesday
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Houser gave up one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
In his first game action of the spring, Houser tossed 15 of 23 pitches for strikes and was able to handle a Miami lineup that included a number of Opening Day starters such as Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm. Houser hasn't made more than 21 big-league starts in a season since 2021, but the Mets expect the 31-year-old right-hander to help solidify the back end of their rotation this year.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Reaches deal with Mets
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Houser signed a one-year, $5.05 million contract with the Mets on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
The Mets acquired Houser from the Brewers in late December, and he projects to serve as rotation depth in 2024. In a similar role for Milwaukee in 2023, he posted a 4.12 ERA and 1.39 WHIP across 111.1 frames. While those are pedestrian numbers, Houser did manage to reach a 20 percent strikeout rate for the first time since 2019.
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Mets' Adrian Houser: Traded to Mets
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The Mets acquired Houser and Tyrone Taylor from the Brewers on Wednesday in exchange for Coleman Crow (elbow), Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Houser posted a decent 4.12 ERA and 96:34 K:BB over 111.1 innings (21 starts, two relief appearances) last season for Milwaukee, but he is due to make around $5.6 million in 2024, his third and final year of salary arbitration. That's a more palatable figure for the Mets than it was for the cost-conscious Brew Crew, though Houser will have to battle for a rotation spot in Queens and might wind up working in long relief.
