Mooney: Chicago Cubs Interested In Adrian Houser

[Matthew Lenz]

Adding to the long list of targets, the Chicago Cubs are interested in Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Adrian Houser.

Houser has enjoyed a resurgent 2025 season with the southsiiders, proving to be a valuable addition after signing a minor league deal and eventually joining their rotation in mid-May. Through 11 starts and 68 2/3 innings pitched, he boasts a remarkable 2.10 ERA. While his FIP of 3.01 is nearly a full run higher, it still indicates strong performance, particularly given his ability to induce weak contact and generate groundballs (48.4% GB%). Houser's strikeout and walk rates are mediocre at 17.7% and 7.7%, leading to a lowly K-BB% of 10.0%. Houser will be a free agent at seasons end.

How much would adding Adrian Houser improve the Cubs' rotations? Join the conversation in the comments!

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[Derwood]

He has the lowest HR rate in the majors. Seems perfect for Wrigley

[Bertz]

Houser is basically just Colin Rea that the regression monster just hasn't quite caught up to yet.  The velo's up so he's legitimately better than he was a year ago, but he's still a #4/#5 that has no right starting a playoff game.

Mooney does more or less say he'd be the lesser pitcher added, so fine whatever, but I really hope people don't look at his ERA and think he's good now.  I'd like to think Rea and now Flexen are helping break that habit?

[gflore34]

54 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Houser is basically just Colin Rea that the regression monster just hasn't quite caught up to yet.  The velo's up so he's legitimately better than he was a year ago, but he's still a #4/#5 that has no right starting a playoff game.

Mooney does more or less say he'd be the lesser pitcher added, so fine whatever, but I really hope people don't look at his ERA and think he's good now.  I'd like to think Rea and now Flexen are helping break that habit?

Hard pass, as you've suggested the regression monster is coming for him.  Let some other team overpay for him and get burned.

[Rex Buckingham]

The cost is always the thing, right? So if it's like Carter Trice or Connor Norland (pulling names out of the back end of a potential top 30) you probably do it. If they want someone like Christian Hernandez or Birdsell I probably wouldn't because ideally Hauser doesn't even make your NLDS roster (thinking Shota, Boyd, starter traded for and Taillon get starts and we have a pen with better stuff than Hauser) 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 hour ago, Rex Buckingham said:

The cost is always the thing, right? So if it's like Carter Trice or Connor Norland (pulling names out of the back end of a potential top 30) you probably do it. If they want someone like Christian Hernandez or Birdsell I probably wouldn't because ideally Hauser doesn't even make your NLDS roster (thinking Shota, Boyd, starter traded for and Taillon get starts and we have a pen with better stuff than Hauser) 

Yeah, just seems like a waste of resources unless the White Sox are just giving him away.