Sampson signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Sampson managed a 3.11 ERA over 21 outings (19 starts) with the Cubs in 2022 but made just nine minor-league appearances in 2023 while missing time following knee surgery. He's healthy now and will compete for a swingman job with the Rangers, but the 32-year-old's most likely destination to start 2024 is Triple-A Round Rock.
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Adrian Sampson: Hits open market
Rotowire
The Rays released Sampson on Aug. 4.
In a minor deal hours before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Rays acquired Sampson from the Cubs as part of a three-player deal, but the veteran right-hander never reported to Tampa Bay's top affiliate in Durham before being handed his walking papers. Sampson made 19 starts for the Cubs in 2022 but had pitched exclusively in the minors in 2023 while missing extensive time due to injury. He had compiled a 10.17 ERA and 1.96 WHIP over 23 innings at Triple-A Iowa prior to being traded to the Rays.
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Rays' Adrian Sampson: Traded to Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Cubs traded Sampson and Manuel Rodriguez to the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Roberson, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Sampson has not pitched in the majors this season, primarily because of a right knee injury that required a cleanup procedure in May, but he registered a 3.11 ERA over 19 starts and two relief appearances for the Cubs during the 2022 campaign. The 31-year-old is healthy now and will presumably report to the Triple-A affiliate of the Rays in Durham.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Reinstated, outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs reinstated Sampson (knee) from the 60-day injured list Monday and outrighted him to Triple-A Iowa, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
After making 19 starts for the Cubs in 2022, Sampson hasn't pitched for the big club this season after being optioned to Iowa coming out of spring training and then getting shut down with a right meniscus injury in early April following two starts with the Triple-A squad. He was cleared to start up a rehab assignment June 24 and eventually reported back to Iowa on July 4, with the right-hander having produced a 9.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 11 strikeouts over 12 innings in his four starts since returning to Triple-A. Though he no longer possesses a spot on the 40-man roster, Sampson should continue to fill a rotation spot at Iowa and could get a late-season call-up to the Cubs if injuries test the organization's pitching depth in the majors.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Makes third Triple-A rehab start
Rotowire
Sampson (knee) completed his third rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, tossing three innings and striking out two while allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk.
Sampson began his rehab program in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on June 24 and has now made five appearances in total during the minor-league assignment, pitching to an 8.56 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 13.2 innings. Since the Cubs don't appear to have a spot in the rotation available for Sampson, he'll likely remain on the farm for close to the full 30 days of the rehab assignment before being activated from the 60-day injured list. Sampson has three minor-league options remaining, so he could be optioned to Iowa once he's reinstated in order to continue making starts with the hope that a spot in the big-league rotation reopens at some point.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Moving rehab up to Triple-A
Rotowire
Sampson (knee) will move up to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday to continue his rehab assignment, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports.
Sampson made two starts with the Cubs' Arizona Complex League affiliate and wasn't very sharp, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with just two strikeouts over 4.2 innings. He'll probably need to show more before the Cubs consider him for a spot in the rotation or bullpen. Sampson has been out for most of this season following a meniscal debridement procedure on his right knee in May.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Sampson (knee) started a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Sampson underwent a meniscal debridement procedure on his right knee in May, and the right-hander was placed on the 60-day injured list shortly after. He'll need to make several rehab appearances before he's ready to return, but he could be an option for the Cubs sometime after the All-Star break.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Cubs transferred Sampson (knee) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Nick Burdi, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa. Sampson isn't expected to return until July at the earliest after he underwent a meniscal debridement procedure on his right knee earlier this month.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Undergoes meniscus surgery
Rotowire
Sampson underwent a meniscal debridement procedure on his right knee Friday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The Cubs haven't provided a timeline for Sampson's return, but he's presumably at least several weeks away from being ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. After being optioned to Triple-A Iowa coming out of spring training, Sampson made two starts for the affiliate before going down with the knee injury. Chicago recalled him from Triple-A on Thursday, but it was merely a procedural move, as he shifted from Iowa's 7-day injured list to the Cubs' 15-day IL. Sampson could move to the Cubs' 60-day IL if the organization needs to free up a 40-man roster spot at some point later on this season.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Recalled, placed on IL
Rotowire
Sampson was recalled Thursday from Triple-A Iowa and placed on the 15-day injured list with a right meniscus injury, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
This is a procedural move from the Cubs that has no bearing on Sampson's recovery timetable. He hasn't appeared in a game for Iowa since April 8 and will probably be returned to that level once he's deemed fit for live competition.
Sampson was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Sampson was competing with Hayden Wesneski for the Cubs' fifth starter role, but it's Wesneski who emerged the winner. Sampson's 8.66 ERA in spring training certainly didn't help his case. Rather than keep him around as the long man in the bullpen, the Cubs elected to send him to the minors, presumably to keep him stretched out.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Looks better Saturday
Rotowire
Sampson allowed two runs (one earned) across 4.1 innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants. He gave up two hits and a walk while striking out six.
Sampson entered the game with a 14.04 ERA across 8.1 innings this spring, so Saturday's start was a step in the right direction. The righty seems destined for a long-relief role with Hayden Wesneski having the inside track for the fifth spot in the rotation, but Sampson did make 19 starts a season ago, so he'll remain a candidate to make spot starts in 2023.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Seems unlikely to start
Rotowire
With Hayden Wesneski likely closing in on the fifth spot in the rotation, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Sampson may have to settle for long-relief work to begin the season.
Wesneski hasn't allowed an earned run in Cactus League action while Sampson has a 14.04 ERA across 8.1 innings. The struggles seem likely to push Sampson into the bullpen. The righty made 19 starts and recorded a strong 3.11 ERA last season, so he could reemerge as a starting option at some point in 2023, but for now it seems his fantasy value will take a hit as a long reliever.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Stung by home runs again
Rotowire
Sampson allowed three runs on six hits across four innings in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Brewers. He had no walks and struck out three.
After allowing three home runs over 2.2 innings in his last spring start, Sampson once again struggled with the long ball, serving up two homers Sunday. The righty is now sitting with a 14.04 Cactus League ERA, which isn't helping his cause in the battle for the team's fifth starter opening. Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad are also in the running, so Sampson may find himself in a long-relief role if he can't turn things around.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Tagged for six runs Tuesday
Rotowire
Sampson allowed six runs on four hits across 2.2 innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. He walked two and struck out two.
Sampson was hurt by the long ball, as three of the four hits he allowed left the park. The righty has now appeared in two games this spring and has given up 10 earned runs across just 4.1 innings. Sampson is in the running for the Cubs' fifth starter role along with Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad, but the former could be falling behind due to his subpar play so far. The 31-year-old made 19 starts and two relief appearances for Chicago last season, posting a strong 3.11 ERA across 104.1 innings, so he could still turn things around in camp.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Struggles in spring debut
Rotowire
Sampson allowed four runs on three hits across 1.2 innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants. He walked one and struck out one.
All three hits allowed by Sampson left the yard, giving the righty a rough line in his spring debut. Sampson is in contention for the Cubs' fifth starter spot along with the likes of Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad, so he'll need better performances moving forward to stick in the rotation to begin the season.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: Will pitch in spring opener
Rotowire
Sampson will work behind starter Marcus Stroman in the Cubs' Cactus League opener Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Sampson is one of the contenders for Chicago's fifth and final spot in the rotation, along with Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad. Whoever wins that battle might get bumped when Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) returns, but there could at least be some short-term streaming value. Sampson started 19 games for the Cubs last year and posted a strong 3.11 ERA across 104.1 innings.
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Cubs' Adrian Sampson: In contention to start
Rotowire
Sampson is competing for the Opening Day fifth starter role in camp, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
The Cubs have a rotation role available at the start of the year while Kyle Hendricks returns from a shoulder injury. Sampson, Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad are seen as the top candidates. Sampson owns a 3.03 ERA in 139.2 innings for the Cubs over the last two seasons, but that figure comes with a 4.28 FIP and a low 17.6 percent strikeout rate.
