The Rays launched right-hander Adrian Sampson final week, as mirrored on the MLB.com transaction log. He’s now a free agent.

Tampa Bay acquired Sampson from the Cubs on the afternoon of the commerce deadline. Clearly, his inclusion in that deal was financially motivated. The Rays picked up the roughly $633K remaining on Sampson’s $1.9MM arbitration contract. In change, Tampa Bay acquired some worldwide signing bonus house and upgraded their bullpen depth by swapping Triple-A relievers Josh Roberson for Manuel Rodríguez.

Sampson hasn’t made a giant league look this season. The well-traveled hurler threw 104 1/3 innings for the Cubs a season in the past, pitching to a 3.11 ERA. A below-average 17.1% strikeout price made it appear questionable he’d be capable to replicate that sort of run prevention, however the Cubs felt comfy sufficient with him as a depth arm to signal him for slightly below $2MM moderately than non-tender him.

Hayden Wesneski beat out Sampson for the fifth starter job in Spring Coaching. After being optioned to the minors, he suffered a proper knee harm that required arthroscopic surgical procedure. Quite than reinstate him from the 60-day injured checklist, Chicago ran him via outright waivers when he returned to well being a pair weeks in the past. The 31-year-old has struggled when wholesome sufficient to pitch for Triple-A Iowa, permitting a ten.17 ERA throughout 23 frames.

Whereas it’s been kind of a misplaced season, Sampson might discover some minor league curiosity elsewhere. The Rays are paying what stays of his wage. If he cracks the majors with one other staff this 12 months, that membership would solely pay him the prorated portion of the $720K league minimal. He owns a 4.43 ERA via elements of 5 years on the main league stage and is barely a season faraway from the very best manufacturing of his MLB profession.