Rays Face Offseason Shake-Up as Adrian Houser Expected to Join Athletics
The Tampa Bay Rays are navigating a busy offseason, making significant moves that could reshape their roster. Among the most notable developments is the anticipated departure of pitcher Adrian Houser, who is projected to sign with the Oakland Athletics as he enters free agency.
Roster Changes and Departures
The Rays have been proactive in reshaping their team, creating space for players coming off the 60-day injured list to rejoin the 40-man roster. This has included trading away right-handed relief pitchers Cole Wilcox and Joey Gerber to the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets, respectively, after they were designated for assignment. The team’s offseason activity doesn’t stop there, as they also made the surprising decision to decline the player option for closer Pete Fairbanks, making him the second Major League player from the Rays to hit free agency alongside Houser.
Adrian Houser’s Journey to Free Agency
Acquired from the Chicago White Sox just before the MLB trade deadline in July, Houser now finds himself back on the open market. Analysts Will Laws and Nick Selbe of Sports Illustrated have weighed in on his situation, suggesting that a return to Tampa Bay seems unlikely. Instead, they predict that the Athletics will be the team to secure his services, providing much-needed depth to their starting rotation.
Performance Insights and Challenges
Houser’s appeal to teams looking for a reliable backend starter is bolstered by his impressive performance earlier in the season. In his time with the White Sox, he made 11 starts, pitching 68.2 innings and posting a stellar 2.10 ERA. However, his transition to the Rays did not yield the same success. Over 10 starts with Tampa Bay, he struggled, managing just 56.1 innings with a 4.79 ERA.
His numbers with the Rays suggest a mixture of bad luck and performance issues. A FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 4.38 indicates some challenges beyond his control, such as a .317 batting average on balls in play that hints at misfortune. A significant factor contributing to his struggles was an inability to keep the ball in the yard—Houser allowed seven home runs during his tenure with the Rays, a stark contrast to the three he surrendered while with Chicago. This spike in home runs nearly tripled his HR/9 rate from 0.4 to 1.1.
Future Outlook
Despite the decline in his numbers after joining the Rays, Houser still managed to produce a 0.3 bWAR, showcasing his potential even in difficult circumstances. However, the Athletics will undoubtedly have to consider his home run issues as they look to bolster their pitching staff. As the offseason unfolds, all eyes will be on Houser and the decisions made by teams seeking to enhance their rosters for the upcoming season.
