The Tampa Bay Rays are buying beginning pitcher Adrian Houser from the Chicago White Sox and reliever Griffin Jax from the Minnesota Twins, sources instructed ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Thursday.
One of many extra intriguing pitcher popups of 2025, Houser started the season with the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, posting a 5.03 ERA in 39 1/3 innings earlier than being launched. The proper-hander was quickly picked up by the White Sox and inserted into the beginning rotation, the place he has a 2.10 ERA in 11 begins, of which 9 qualify as high quality begins.
For the season, Houser, 32, is 6-2 with 47 strikeouts and 22 walks in 68 2/3 innings pitched.
He has a profession document of 38-41 with one save, a 4.00 ERA, 531 strikeouts in 164 regular-season video games (115 begins) over 9 MLB seasons with the White Sox, Brewers and Mets.
Regardless of a 4.50 ERA that claims in any other case, the 30-year-old Jax, who moved from the Twins’ rotation to the bullpen in 2022, has been one of many prime relievers in baseball this season — the most effective by xFIP and towards the highest in different, comparable metrics. The proper-hander’s sweeper-heavy arsenal induces as a lot swing-and-miss as anybody, with him posting the fifth-highest strikeout fee within the majors amongst pitchers with a minimum of 40 innings this season.
Jax has 72 strikeouts and simply 13 walks this season.
Jax, who’s underneath membership management by means of the tip of the 2027 season, has been a continuing presence because the setup man for nearer Jhoan Duran, who was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. The proper-hander has 21 holds, however he lacks closing expertise with simply three profession saves (and 24 blown saves).
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel contributed to this report.