Following the loss of starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt to Tommy John Surgery, the New York Yankees’ rotation is thin.
Inconsistent performances from Will Warren and the inexperience of recent Major League call-up Cam Schlittler apply a lot of pressure on All-Stars Max Fried and Carlos Rodon to pitch deep into ballgames. The Yankees await patiently for Luis Gil to make his season debut as he rehabs from a high-grade lat strain at Double-A Somerset.
Due to the Yankees’ injuries in their rotation and the questions surrounding the roster as the July 31 trade deadline nears, there’s a strong chance general manager Brian Cashman shops for a starting pitching addition.
Yankees-White Sox Trade Idea Sends Rejuvenated Starter to New York
One of the Major League Baseball teams nearly guaranteed to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline is the Chicago White Sox.
Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. is one of the hottest names on the trade rumor mill, but the White Sox could also float players’ names from their pitching staff to other organizations. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported on Tuesday that the White Sox are likely to move right-hander Adrian Houser.
“Chicago’s Adrian Houser seems likely to move, as a second-tier starter who has performed well this season,” wrote Olney.
“The 32-year-old right-hander was released by the Rangers in May but has been very effective since joining the White Sox rotation, giving up only two homers in 57â innings and generating an ERA+ of 226. Nobody is taking those numbers at face value, but evaluators do view him as a market option. The White Sox also have some relievers worth considering.”
Houser may not be the top starting pitcher on the trade market. Still, he would undoubtedly be less expensive for the New York Yankees to acquire than the Miami Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara or the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen. After a poor 2024 season with the New York Mets, Houser owns a career-high 2.6 bWAR in 10 starts this season with the White Sox.
As a sinkerball pitcher, Houser averages just 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Although his 48.1 percent ground ball rate fits the mold of the Yankees’ pitching staff.
Houserâs Price Tag May Be Low
Unlike any organization in MLB, the New York Yankees have a knack for finding undervalued pitchers that can provide quality innings.
The best example is starter-turned-reliever Luke Weaver, who had a 4.25 ERA or higher in three consecutive seasons before the Yankees claimed him off waivers from the Seattle Mariners in September 2023. Another is lefty slinger Tim Hill, who has been a reliable arm out of the Yankees’ bullpen since his release from the Chicago White Sox last July.
Unlike Weaver and Hill, the Yankees would have to make a trade to acquire Houser. His success with the White Sox is in a relatively small sample size, and the best season of his career dates back to 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
New York may not have to relinquish more than one player on their top 30 prospects list, or a few minor leaguers that have shown promise, in exchange for Houser. Acquiring the nine-year veteran could be a low-risk, high-reward move that can help them in the postseason, if they make it that far.
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