The Rangers have announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson to a minor league contract with an invitation to the major league Spring Training camp. This marks a return for Sampson, now 32, who previously spent three years with the Rangers. Acquired from the Mariners via waivers in November 2016, he remained with the organization through the 2019 season. During his tenure, he pitched 153 innings at the major league level, posting an ERA of 5.71. While his strikeout rate was modest at 17.3%, he managed to keep his walk rate relatively low at 6%.
Following his time with the Rangers, Sampson ventured overseas, joining the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization for the 2020 season. Upon returning to the United States, he signed a minor league deal with the Cubs, where he shuffled between the major league roster and the minors throughout 2021 and 2022. Despite solid on-field results, his underlying statistics suggested some regression, with a .275 batting average on balls in play and an 80% strand rate contributing to a lower ERA compared to his FIP and SIERA.
Despite being retained by the Cubs through arbitration for the 2023 season, Sampson faced setbacks, including knee surgery and limited pitching opportunities. Ultimately, he was outrighted off the roster and subsequently released by the Rays after a brief stint following a trade from the Cubs.
Now with the Rangers again, Sampson aims to revitalize his career with a club facing pitching depth concerns, particularly at the onset of the season due to injuries to key pitchers. With notable names like Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Jon Gray, nd Tyler Mahle sidelined, the Rangers’ rotation will rely on Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning, and Cody Bradford, some of whom have injury histories of their own.
Given the bullpen losses from the previous season and the signings of David Robertson and Kirby Yates, there’s a potential need for bolstering non-roster depth. Sampson’s versatility as both a starter and reliever could prove valuable, especially considering the experienced pitchers on minor league deals already in the mix. Should Sampson make the roster at any point, he still has options remaining.
