The San Francisco Giants are adding veteran right-hander Adrian Houser on a two-year, $22 million deal with a club option for a third year, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
It’s the Giants’ latest move to address their rotation needs after being linked to several mid-tier free agents this winter. With Logan Webb, Landen Roupp, and Robbie Ray already in the fold, San Francisco needed another starter, especially with Justin Verlander likely headed elsewhere.
“Right-hander Adrian Houser and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a two-year, $22 million contract with a club option for a third year,” Passan reports.
The move comes on the heels of the Giants adding reliever Jason Foley on December 16th, showing they’re committed to upgrading the entire pitching staff.
What the Giants Are Getting
Houser’s 2025 season tells two different stories. He was excellent in his 11 starts with the White Sox, posting a 2.10 ERA and 3.0 bWAR. But after getting traded to Tampa Bay, things went sideways – a 4.79 ERA in 10 starts with just 0.3 bWAR.
The tale of two halves makes Houser an intriguing bet for San Francisco. Combined, he went 8-5 with a 3.31 ERA across 21 starts and 3.3 bWAR – solid production from a guy who’ll be 33 when the 2026 season starts.
Houser’s been around the block. He first reached the majors way back in 2015 but didn’t stick until 2019 when he carved out a consistent role with Milwaukee. Since then, he’s been a reliable mid-rotation arm, even if he’s never been mistaken for an ace.
Filling the Rotation Puzzle
The Giants weren’t going to land one of the premium arms like Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez, so they’re focusing on value plays in the second tier of the market. At $11 million per year, Houser’s deal reflects that approach.
What makes this signing work is the upside Houser showed during his White Sox stint. That 2.10 ERA wasn’t a fluke – it came with solid peripherals and showed he can still miss bats when he’s locked in.
The club option gives San Francisco flexibility, too. If Houser bounces back to his early-2025 form, they’ve got a bargain. If not, they can move on after two years without a massive commitment.
All things considered, it’s the kind of calculated risk that makes sense for a Giants team trying to bridge the gap between rebuild and contention. They’re betting that whatever went wrong in Tampa Bay was more about circumstance than decline, and at 32, Houser should have enough left in the tank to make that bet pay off.
