Rangers Sign Adrian Houser to Minor League Deal with Spring Camp Invitation

The Texas Rangers have signed right-hander Adrian Houser to a minor league contract, as reported by Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media. The deal includes an invitation to the Rangers' big league spring training camp, providing Houser with an opportunity to compete for a roster spot.

Houser's journey has been eventful over the past year. Nearly 12 months ago, the New York Mets acquired him along with Tyrone Taylor from the Milwaukee Brewers, aiming to strengthen their roster with familiar faces from David Stearns' previous tenure in Milwaukee. While Taylor performed decently in the Mets' outfield, Houser struggled in New York, posting a 5.84 ERA over 69 1/3 innings.

Injuries to other pitchers opened the door for Houser to start the season in the Mets' rotation. However, he was briefly moved back to a starting role when the team adopted a six-man rotation. His performance as a starter was challenging, with an 8.55 ERA in 33 2/3 innings, compared to a more respectable 3.28 ERA in 35 2/3 innings as a reliever, typically in multi-inning appearances.

Despite finding some success as a long reliever, the Mets designated Houser for assignment and released him in late July. He subsequently signed minor league contracts with both the Chicago Cubs and the Baltimore Orioles, but these stints did not lead to further major league appearances.

Throughout his career, Houser has started 104 of his 152 MLB games, often delivering solid results as a swingman for the Brewers. Known for his ground-ball tendencies and an 18.5% career strikeout rate, Houser's 2024 performance suggests his future may lie more in relief pitching than starting. He has a career 2.32 ERA in 97 innings as a reliever, significantly better than his 4.57 ERA in 511 2/3 innings as a starter.

​The Rangers see potential value in Houser as a versatile option for rotation depth, especially given his success in the bullpen. As he joins Texas for spring training, Houser will aim to secure a spot on the major league roster and contribute to the team's pitching staff.