{"id":13156,"date":"2024-12-07T11:47:33","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T19:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=13156"},"modified":"2024-12-07T11:47:33","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T19:47:33","slug":"rangers-adrian-houser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2024\/12\/07\/rangers-adrian-houser\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers Agree to Terms with Adrian Houser on Minors Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Texas Rangers<\/a> have reportedly agreed to terms with right-hander Adrian Houser<\/a><\/strong> to a minor-league contract. News of the development was first reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand<\/a> on Saturday. The agreement comes with an invitation to spring training. The club has not confirmed the deal.<\/p>\n

2024 Struggles<\/h4>\n

Houser, 31, was acquired by the New York Mets<\/a> from the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> last winter in a deal that also brought Tyrone Taylor<\/a><\/strong> to New York. The veteran right-hander struggled as a starter with a record of 0\u20134 and an 8.55 ERA in seven starts. However, he was much more effective out of the bullpen, logging a 3.28 ERA in 34 2\/3 innings spread across 16 games.<\/p>\n

While it seemed like Adrian Houser<\/a> had found his groove as a long reliever, the Mets designated him for assignment and then released him in late July.\u00a0 The Chicago Cubs<\/a> and Baltimore Orioles<\/a> each signed Houser to minor-league contracts during the season, but those deals failed to translate into any more big league playing time for him.<\/p>\n

Ground Ball Specialist<\/h4>\n

Houser has appeared in 152 career major league games, 104 of which were starts. He delivered passable results as a swingman for the Brewers for much of his career. For most of that stretch, he kept the ball on the ground, as his career strikeout rate is only 18.5%.<\/p>\n

Houser\u2019s results in 2024 could somewhat close the door on his usage as a starter, even if the Rangers could see value in having a swingman around as rotation depth.\u00a0 Beyond last season\u2019s splits, Houser has a 2.32 ERA in 97 career innings as a reliever, as compared to a much less impressive 4.57 ERA in 511 2\/3 frames as a starter.<\/p>\n

Help Needed<\/h4>\n

Relievers are a much more significant need for a Rangers team could lose most of its 2024 bullpen. Kirby Yates<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0David Robertson<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Jose Leclerc<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Jose Urena<\/a><\/strong>, and\u00a0Andrew Chafin<\/a><\/strong> have all elected free agency. Additionally, Josh Sborz<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0will be out until at least the start of June due to offseason shoulder surgery.<\/p>\n

The current Rangers starting rotation of Jacob deGrom<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Jon Gray<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Tyler Mahle<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Kumar Rocker<\/a><\/strong>, and\u00a0Jack Leiter<\/a><\/strong> is full of question marks regarding injuries and inexperience. In addition to depth signings like Houser, the Rangers are also hoping to re-sign either Nathan Eovaldi<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0Andrew Heaney<\/a><\/strong>, who are both free agents as well.<\/p>\n

This marks the second signing in less than a week for the Rangers. They also agreed to terms on a two-year contract<\/a> with catcher Kyle Higashioka<\/a><\/strong> on December 2.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>