The Giants joined the Hot Stove League action today by reaching agreements with two free agent pitchers, Adrian Houser RHP and Jason Foley RHP. They also agreed to a minor league deal with former Giant Gregory Santos RHP. Here's the breakdown:
Adrian Houser RHP. DOB: 2/2/1993. 6' 3", 242 lbs. 2yr/ $22 M(Option for 3'rd season).
2025: 8-5, 3.31, 125 IP, 6.62 K/9, 2.74 BB/9, 1.49 GB/FB.
Houser caught on with the White Sox last season after a disastrous 2024 with the Mets who released him. He got off to a great start including 7 shutout innings against the Giants. He was less effective after a midseason trade to the Rays where his ERA ballooned to 4.79 from the 2.10 he ran up with the ChiSox. So what's the deal with Houser. He is obviously a contact pitcher whose success will fluctuate according to the whims of the BABIP gods but there may be reason for more optimism than his K/9 and FIP indicate.
He has a solid 5 pitch mix including 4-seam FB, sinker, slider and changeup all with approximately equal effectiveness. They are all good pitches but he doesn't seem to have that put away pitch he needs to get K's. His fastball and sinker velocities took 2 MPH jumps from 2024 to 95.2 and 94.4 respectively. He limits the contact damage with a strong groundball tendency and does not give up a lot of home runs which should play just fine in Oracle Park. His numbers with the Rays were negatively impacted by allowing 9 ER in 10.2 IP in his first two starts. His remaining 8 starts were better with a 4.14 ERA. Two of his final 3 starts were Quality Starts.
He is exactly the type of pitcher the Giants lacked last season, so this is a solid signing, but that was with Justin Verlander in the rotation. Houser is probably not a guy they can count on to deliver 150 IP let along 180 as 142 is the maximum number of innings he's pitched in any season of his career. IMO, the Giants still need a starting pitcher at least as good as Verlander was last season plus Houser.
Jason Foley RHP. DOB: 11/1/1995. 6' 4", 215 lbs. 1 yr/$2 M(Arbitration Eligible 2027, Free Agent 2029).
2024: 3-6, 3.15, 60.0 IP, 6.90 K/9, 3.00 BB/9, 1.57 GB/FB, 28 Saves.
Foley missed all of 2025 after undergoing shoulder surgery. He is expected to start the season on the 60-day IL and be available by midseason. He was a decent Closer for the Tigers in 2023 and 2024.
He's mostly a sinker-slider guy with an occasional 4-seam and changeup mixed in. He pitches to contact and with a strong groundball tendency and limits home runs.
Gregory Santos returns to the Giants organization on a minor league deal. He's a hard-thrower who can still get it up into the upper 90's but relies on his slider for over 60% of his pitches. He has battled injuries since having a good season with the White Sox in 2023.
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