Giants Bolster Back of Rotation by Signing Adrian Houser

Immediately, this doesn’t look like a deal that moves the needle too much. However, once you consider the price tag for starting pitching in today’s game, this is a pact that has the upside to bring incredible value for San Francisco.

Heading into the 2025 season, Houser had a career 4.21 ERA and 4.27 FIP. He wasn’t at the top of anybody’s wish list and was seen as a fine innings eater who could start games or come out of the bullpen.

However, at age 32 and in his seventh full season, he regained the opportunity to start games for the White Sox. This would end up working out very well for the veteran righty. In 11 starts with Chicago, he’d post a 2.10 ERA and be one of the more coveted rentals dealt at the deadline.

After 10 starts and a bit of regression with the Rays, Houser would end up putting together arguably his best season in the league and his most valuable by fWAR (2.3 fWAR). In 125 innings, he posted a 3.31 ERA and 3.81 FIP with 92 strikeouts.

This was likely due to a pretty significant increase in velocity. While all of his pitches come in below average in terms of Stuff+, he saw a two mph uptick on the fastball and sinker while seeing an absurd five mph jump on the slider.

Houser’s high ground- ball rate — a career mark of 51.3% — also aligns perfectly with what San Francisco typically prefers. We may even see that number tick up due to him being in a clubhouse with ground-ball specialist Logan Webb.

If Houser can come anywhere near replicating his 2025 production for the Giants across the next two seasons, this could be a steal for San Francisco. With the Giants receiving a guy who has the potential to put together a season with an ERA in the low 3.00s, two years at $22 million looks like a very solid pact.

While he doesn’t have the same track record or amount of innings, Houser put up a better ERA and similar FIP to Merrill Kelly in 2025, who just signed for $40 million across two-years to return to the Diamondbacks. San Francisco could be getting similar production at nearly $9 million less on an annual basis.

The Current Rotation

Like mentioned earlier, the top of the Giants’ rotation is extremely strong. Webb is one of the premier starting pitchers in baseball. The fourth-place Cy Young finisher is coming off a season in which he led baseball in innings and led the National League in strikeouts.

Behind him is Robbie Ray, who returned to dominant form in 2025. He was named an All-Star and had a 2.93 ERA in 129 innings heading into August.

After the top two is where things get a bit more interesting. Landen Roupp is coming off a breakout season, but he doesn’t have the track record of racking up innings. It was a 3.80 ERA in just 106.2 innings in 2025. However, from June 21 to July 22, he was one of the best starters in baseball with a 1.15 ERA in six starts.

Roupp most likely slots in as the Giants’ third starter currently, with Houser coming in as a solid fourth.

After those four, the group’s options for a fifth starter are full of question marks. Hayden Birdsong and Carson Whisenhunt were both higher touted prospects but have struggled in the big leagues at times. They’ve also been floated in trade talks all Winter.

Kai-Wei Teng and Trevor McDonald are two unproven, and widely unknown, options who might fight for that last spot in Spring Training as well.

Final Thoughts

If San Francisco wants to compete in 2026, they will likely need to sign or trade for a high-upside second option to slide into the rotation right behind Logan Webb. This takes a ton of pressure off of Robbie Ray and Landen Roupp, while turning Adrian Houser into an extremely solid fifth starter.

While there are more moves to be made, bringing in Houser addresses a significant need. The veteran starter is coming off of arguably his best season since entering the big leagues and won’t cost San Francisco an arm and a leg.

He immediately shores up the back end of the rotation while offering the potential for a productive, great-value deal.