The White Sox bullpen entered the season with uncertainty, and nearly 50 games in, those concerns remain unresolved. In response, the White Sox front office is attempting to stop the bleeding, announcing on Tuesday that they had inked right-hander Adrian Houser to a one-year deal worth $1.35 million.
Monday marked the latest bullpen meltdown, as left-hander Cam Booser entered in the eighth inning with one out and the White Sox trailing the Seattle Mariners by a run. Inheriting a runner on first, Booser proceeded to load the bases with a walk and a single before leaving an 88 mph cutter over the heart of the plate — a pitch Julio Rodríguez launched into the left-field bleachers for a grand slam.
The White Sox bullpen currently holds a 4.73 ERA, the sixth-highest in MLB. Their relievers have combined for a league-worst 15 losses and just three saves—three fewer than the next closest team.
Houser is primarily a starter, with 48 of his 152 appearances coming out of the bullpen. However, he serves as another potential innings-eater, as Bryse Wilson has struggled to find his footing in the starting rotation.
Houser is an eight-year MLB veteran who spent his first seven seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers before appearing in 23 games for the Mets last season. He owns a career 4.21 ERA across 608.2 innings.
Last season, Houser struggled in New York, posting a 5.84 ERA while allowing opponents to hit .272 against him. His 14.6% strikeout rate was the second-lowest of his career.
The 32-year-old signed with the Texas Rangers during the offseason but did not crack the MLB roster, starting the season in Triple-A Round Rock. Houser’s struggles have continued in the minor leagues to the tune of a 5.03 ERA in 39.1 innings of work, however, he has also struck out 22.8% of opponents and posted a stellar 57.3 ground ball rate.
In a hitter-friendly park like Guaranteed Rate Field, having a pitcher who can keep the ball on the ground is a plus, which makes Houser an intriguing option for the White Sox. Houser owns a ground ball rate of 51.7 percent across his eight seasons in the MLB, highlighted by a 59.3% mark during the 2020 season.
Wilson has allowed a 6.62 ERA in four starts with eight walks and ten strikeouts. He has also struggled to go deep into games, only making it into the sixth inning once; however, during that start against the Reds, he allowed seven runs.
Houser appears to be a depth piece to the rotation that features four young arms to prevent the bullpen from having to cover more innings.
