The Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Adrian Sampson, reports Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register (on Twitter). He’s reported to the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Iowa.
It’s a quick return to the organization for Sampson, whom the Cubs just lost on waivers a couple weeks ago. The Mariners had grabbed the 30-year-old after Chicago designated him for assignment, but Seattle took him off their 40-man roster before he even appeared in a game. Sampson passed through the wire unclaimed following his second designation but refused an outright assignment in favor of minor league free agency last week.
Sampson heads back to Iowa, where he’s started five games this year. Through 19 2/3 innings, he posted a 3.66 ERA. Sampson only punched out 14.6% of opponents in that time, but he induced ground-balls at a solid 48.5% clip and continued his career-long track record of pounding the strike zone. Chicago selected him to the majors for one relief outing before unsuccessfully trying to run him through waivers.
That May 8 outing against the Dodgers — in which Sampson allowed two unearned runs in one inning — marked his second straight season with some big league work. The 30-year-old started five of his ten outings for the Cubs last season, posting a 2.80 ERA through 35 1/3 frames. That was in spite of Sampson’s low-strikeout ways and eight home runs allowed, and Chicago outrighted him off their 40-man roster following the season before bringing him back on a Spring Training minor league deal.
Welcome back.
As always, we await developments.
Better the people who know him best. There are worse P’s out there. Decent 4A depth piece.
And who pops up next to Adrian Sampson on MLB Trade Rumors snippets?
The man he was traded for all the way back in 2015- JAHapp!
The Cubs got their
Man
Madrigal to the roster….?
Sampsonite. I was WAY off!
Heard he just got married …. Someone named Delilah.
If he pitches well, don’t cut his hair!
Maybe he signed a lease on a sweet pad in Des Moines for the season.
Shut the eff up Donny!
Rather them give Caleb Kilan the call
I’d rather see Sampson than Luke Farrell. Although I’d also rather give Espinoza another chance this Saturday as the 27th man.
We won’t see Killian until the Super-2 cutoff has safely passed. Don’t know what kind of innings limit he has this year.
Brickhouse: You’re right. You know, All I’ve been hearing for years is how the Players hate that idiotic clause in the CBA and I thought that was the reason the players refused to sign and caused the lockout. Then after every work stoppage there it is, causing dumb ass decisions again. The owners must be totally willing to let the games stop to keep the ridiculous clause. So I really don’t want to hear the Union or any players complain about it anymore because they’re obviously wimps.