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 ground ball 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.
Spot on, Houser is a fine #5, but who's the #3?
ReplyDeleteThere's still a lot of money on the Giants' table before luxury tax kicks in, and there are still worthy candidate on the board.
It's a good thing, Doc, that most of your readers are objective, and not going nuts over a minor signing which $11M/year is these days: depth not a top 3.
ReplyDeleteHmm.....read comments below. I even hit the button on the most negative, vitriolic one.
DeleteWhite Sox were one of the worst teams in the league. Obviously there was no pressure on Houser over there. Giants are a different breed. I don’t think it’s going to work out
ReplyDeleteDepends on what you mean by "work out." If Buster is thinking Houser is Verlander's replacement, then I agree. It's not enough. But if he sees Houser as the #4 or 5 and is still looking for Verlander's replacement or looking to resign Verlander himself, then I think Houser can fill that role.
DeleteFor $22M for an SP, you get 1 year of Imanaga or 2 years of Houser.
ReplyDeleteNote: Neither Imanaga nor Woodruff (who also gets $22M for one year) were actually available as they took their QO's which implies they are overpaid.
I will take 2 years of Houser for $22 M over Imanaga or Woodruff for 1 yr/$22 M any day.
DeleteI am not "going nuts" but I am not feeling the Hauser signing one iota..Not for 11 million per for 2 years after 1/2 of a good season followed by a decline after 60 or so IP (except agaisnt the Giants!) and back to his previous year's stuff...And no longer a dependable innings eater that he was years ago and with injury history....But, hopefully we get Alex Cobb instead of Matt Moore!!!..Stuff is weak but he tries to keep the ball on the Ground so I guess that's where he fits in for a few months. All in all, ind his signing a waste of money where every dollar counts for a Giant team but will hope for the best,
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I do like the chance taken on FOLEY...Two quite good years before his injury..Can close or set up..Hopefully he can be a mid season boost to the Giants bullpen even if it really might not matter next year given Buster's (or ownership allowed) approach SO FAR this off season. Still time though.
SteveVA
I thought I went to some length to show there MIGHT be more to Houser than just a half good season and a simple regression, but.....oh well.....
DeleteDoc..You did..Just not agreeing with you...and that's OK, right?
DeleteSteveVA
Maybe not 100%, but Doc is baseball's Ivory Soap: 99.44% Pure
DeleteSteveVA, you aren't really disagreeing with me because I also laid out the reasons why Houser MIGHT be just a 120 inning/5 ERA pitcher.
DeleteMore mediocre talent for an irrelevant team. The "Buster Bargin Bin Shopping Spree" is off to a fine start. How can we get Joe Lacob to buy this team? Unless that happens, the Giants will continue to be, at best, an afterthought, most likely a laughing stock franchise. Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, those teams have a legitimate excuse to not spend big because they are all small market teams. S.F. is what the 5th or 6th biggest media market in the country? It’s embarrassing to be a Giants fan under this ownership. If enough fans stop going to games, stop buying merch and stop watching and listening to games, the money trail dries up and Johnson will be forced to either sell or actually invest in the team. Unless that happens we’ll just get more of the same……..
ReplyDeleteOnce again, the Giants problem is not that they don't spend enough money. They need better baseball decisions. It remains to be seen whether Buster is making good baseball decisions or not. I do think Houser addresses a glaring need but also agree he should not be seen as Verlander's replacement. That requires another acquisition.
DeleteI am not saying that if I were the GM that I would do any of these, but please feel free to comment with a range of "I would do that" to "That's ridiculous!"
ReplyDeleteYes, these trades would create other holes on the roster, but could open the team for other moves.
Random trade ideas:
Heliot Ramos for Pablo Lopez (Twins should rebuild)
Bryce Eldridge for Joe Ryan (giving the future of Eldridge for 2 years of a mlb top rated pitcher, Fangraphs has him at #17) Maybe throw in one of the Giants SP question marks.
Would give the Giants a strong first three SP. Take away the Devers/Eldridge question of who's on first.
Casey Schmidt for Robert Gasser (Mil SP former top prospect before TJ, now healthy)
Throwing a dart that would give the Giants another question mark in their rotation. I believe the Brewers could upgrade at 3rd.
I have no problem dealing RAMOS, he's adequate, but wouldn't be enough for LOPEZ and then you need 3OFs not two!
DeleteI agree with you on dealing ELDRIDGE because ultimately he will not be a fit on this team...but you only deal him for something really, really good and likely to be a Giant for YEARS (i.e., a Younger pitcher or younger OF ready to bust loose). Don't rush to trade him..but be open to it for a good deal.
As for dealing SCHMIDT for a pitcher like Gasser, I'd forget about the Martes and Doyle at 2B and go with Schmidt or Koss with the other being a utility guy.. An OF bat is more important to me but likely not the Giants.
SteveVA
I think the Twins have said they aren't trading either Lopez or Ryan(maybe they are bluffing to support their price?). Agree with SteveVA that I would not want to see Eldridge hitting 40 bombs per year for another team 4 years after the player they traded him for has moved on. I'll have to look up Robert Gasser(BTW, what a great name for a pitcher!), but if he's got promise I would trade Schmitt for him in a second.
DeleteHas Verlander already signed somewhere? Or maybe he's just not willing to chance another 4 win year by the bay?
ReplyDeleteThese are not crazy ideas but I think the Twins have said they are not trading Lopez or Ryan. Personally I would keep Eldridge and option him to the minors for more seasoning and get a lower-cost hitter like Dom Smith to DH for one season. I would really, really hate to give up Eldridge for 2 years of Joe Ryan and then watch Eldridge turn into a 40 HR hitter.
DeleteWhen Melvin was managing, he mentioned that Verlander might be looking for a two year deal.
DeleteWould Verlander take a little less AAV for a 2 year deal? Like maybe 2/$24 M instead of 1/$15 M? Get 'er done, Buster!
DeleteI remember Houser pitching a gem for the white Sox against the Giants, thinking Giants might develop interest, sure enough. If he pitches like that, he'll help. Hope Foley recovers from shoulder surgery. I like his experience as a closer so he's a depth piece at mid season. Its good that they're not stopping here. according to reports. I wish Greg Johnson would stop talking to the Press. While it might be good practice not to give pitchers. $9 figure contracts, he comes across as an owner not willing to spend what it takes to win which upsets fans.
ReplyDeleteI recall Houser pitching a gem against the Giants. I also recall many other pitchers pitching gems against the Giants in 2025. I like the signing of Houser as a 4th or 5th pitcher, but the elusive element will be to find a good 3rd SP and bullpen to round out the offseason. Personally I think some small revolution for the MLB in 2027 might be a good thing-- without some shakeup in the collective bargaining agreement we might continue to see the same 3 or 4 teams in the World Series every year. (and the Giants' biggest rival winning it 75% of the time)
ReplyDeleteRangers won in 2023, Astros in 2022, Braves in 2021, Nationals in 2019, Red Sox in 2018, Cubs in 2016, Royals in 2015, Giants in 2014, Cardinals in 2011
DeleteI don't want to see a lockout in 2027, but if Dodgers end up winning the Worlld Series again, something needs to change to give small market teams a better chance to compete for a world series.
DeleteI'd be happy if they just disallowed inflation adjusted AAV's on deferred money or at least limited the percent of deferred money they can do that with. I would not enjoy Ohtani being a Dodger at any contract but I could accept it if the Dodgers were paying the CBT on $70 M AAV instead of $47 M. It's that discount they get on the 97% of salary deferred for 10 years that sticks in my throat.
DeleteI’m gonna hold judgement until offseason is over. I have a feeling there is a big move or two left that will make the offseason a success. If not then I’m pretty sure fans will realize it wasn’t Farhan’s fault and the ownership really are cheap and don’t care about winning. I’m not gonna jump to that conclusion just yet but I’m getting ready.
ReplyDeleteI too think that Eldridge should return to AAA and earn his way to the majors. This decision would fit with Buster's "old school" philosophy as well as being in Eldridge's long-term developmental best interest. Even though he hit 18 HRs in AAA last season, he needs to improve his walk rate and decrease his K rate. When he dominates at AAA, then that's the time to figure out what the next step is. Just my $0.02.
ReplyDeleteTrading Eldridge, hmmm .....Let's remember one of the most lopsided trades in SF Giant history. In 1966 the Giants had two first basemen, Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda. Cepeda had knee issues. They traded Cepeda for Ray Sadecki. Cepeda went on to be League MVP in 1967. Sadecki was regarded as a journeyman*. So yes, it is difficult to trade what we hope is the team's future in Eldridge. For me this is what makes the hot stove league interesting to follow trades that are made and trades that are not made.
ReplyDelete*Sadecki got crushed that first year with the Giants,an ERA of 5.40.
The next two years he had sub 3.00 ERAs and won 12 games each year. Yikes! In 1968 he went 12 and 18 with a 2.91 ERA and pitched 253 innings. Imagine a SP today having that kind of year.
Heh Doc! I have been laying in the weeds for weeks now. No matter what is going on in my world, I make sure to check your site out everyday and I mean everyday.
ReplyDeleteI have been dealing with what many guys our age late 60's early 70's up a number of times for a squirt. Now going though Prosate cancer treament > great Oncologist > so far so good > feeling great other than getting out of bed a number of times, but feeling great. If for some reason you don't post my note thats Ok. Just wanted to remind everyone make sure you get your PSA checked.
As far as the Giants off season > I get all the angst from the other posters. We seem to be living with Dodger envy. We all want to see a load bang from Buster.
Though Johnson is leery of the big 9 figure pitcher signing. God knows what it was like to live through the Zito era, and then almost side by side we sign Vogie and what fun that was. I will continue to stand firm with Buster, He needs at least 3 full years to build his team. On the Eldridge thing > I see the ghost of Dave Kingman lurking about > much like Marley's ghost haunting Mr.Scrooge.
Had to slip a Christmas reference in here.
Doc have a real great holiday with your family > I know I will up here in snowy cold Winnipeg!
To all my fellow posters have a great holiday season as well!
Try not to get your knickers n a knot > rememer its baseball we are talking about on Doc's page!
Richard in Winnipeg
I am sorry to hear about your health setback but happy you are managing it. My family is dealing with a serious new cancer diagnosis and no less than 4 people within our friend circle are are dealing with it in various forms too. So yeah, we are getting to that age. It's like a friend and colleague I worked with on a research project once said, "when you get to my age, you don't know where the bullets are coming from." I second Richard's exhortation to get your recommended cancer screenings done.
DeleteI agree with Greg Johnson that it is not ideal to have too many simultaneous 6-7 year contracts and the Giants are at or close to their limit on those. Much more manageable if they are staggered so you have one or two expiring every year. Dave Kingman, or his equivalent, batting 6'th in the lineup would actually be pretty sweet.
DeleteI also agree with Greg Johnson about having too many multi-year contracts running at the same time and aging out at the same time. We he mentioned it, a lot of fans took it as the Giants would be going cheap and that they would automatically be out on big signings like Imai. I understand what he said and I think Johnson was misconstrued. What I think he meant was that the Giants would consider each free agent on a case by case basis and to be careful not to get into a situation in the future where they would have to replace a core all at once. As it is now, Chapman, Adames, and Devers would probably decline at the same time and adding another one would be a rough way to start the 2030s.
DeleteThey also have some payments due in 2026 that will be money spent but will not count against the competitive balance tax: payments to Bob Melvin and Blake Snell, payment to Tennessee for Vitello, and improvements to Papago. I think that's going to run about $70-80 million. They will be spending a lot but not necessarily on player acquisition. I will not fault them if they want to be conservative this off season, especially with the new collective bargaining agreement coming.
Payments for Papago down come out of the Giants operating budget; so would not affect what the Giants/Buster have in $$$ to spend for new signing or the Cap. Papago is a separatye entity and if additional monies are needed > then they would ptoewntially be a direct cash call from the sharholders. So out of their perwonal pockets. Giants as a busoiness entity of itself > if additional capital needed would come from inside the business operating funds and or maybe requiring drawing of their bank operating line(s) of credit.
ReplyDeleteRichard in Winnipeg.
I understand that the Papago money does not count against the CBT but for many of the investors, money is money. The Giants as a corporation consist of the baseball club, the infrastructure (which includes Oracle and Scottsdale facilities) and Mission Rock. Even though the baseball side can theoretically operate separately from the other arms, for many of the investors, money tied up in the other investments might lead to more conservative spending on the baseball end. Also, there is a private equity firm involved which also could reign in spending, even if they do not have voting rights. In the past ten years, they have added Mission Rock and the equity firm and things have gotten a bit more complicated.
DeleteFirst off RICHARD, great to hear you are feeling better and fighting this damn cancer thing! Had a rough health year at 67 here but also turning the corner! We just keep on fighting and being vigilant/procactive..And, yes, the Giants aren't life or death for me even if it sounds like it sometimes...The Giants and this place are entertainment and a diversion for me! Thanks DOC!
ReplyDeleteI understand the reluctance to go with another BIG and LONG contract this off-season especially offensively where you have 3 huge contracts already. However at SP, if the Giants ever want to be serious about the POs after this year, they will have to take that step once Ray is gone or even be proactive about it with a signing or trade.
Given the lack of big contract and spending, Giants just have to be smarter and better at evaluating talent and filling the most important needs. I don't think Hauser fits that category but, hey, it's done...What bothers me is that all we hear about is the Giants being connected to 2B, fist Marte, then Donovan, now Hoerner...all good players...but when your OF is a smorgasboarg of , at best, mediocrity with Ramos, Lee, Dean, Encarnacion, Gilbert and the 3 Young M's. Maybe Buster is thinking back to the success with guys like Torres, Blanco, Ross, Morse, Burrel and a few others...I just don't think that really flys anymore and that .you are dooming yourself if you don't improve here.. Also surprised that WEIMER was the guy they are DFAing when adding Hauser. He 's the one I would have kept over all the others.. Oh well, we'll see..
SteveVA
If they DFA'ed Weimer, maybe that gives Matos one last chance.
DeleteSmall sample size, but Luis Matos is hitting .108 over 68 PAs in the Venezuelan winter league for La Guiara. Ouch!
ReplyDelete